More than 5,200 council properties lie empty across country

MORE than 5,200 council houses and flats are lying empty as Ireland’s homeless population continues to spiral, it emerged last night.

Chairman of the Dáil’s powerful Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Bernard Allen demanded an inquiry into the scale of the situation as he estimated €1 billion worth of local authority property was unused while waiting lists lengthened.

The figures came as the Simon Community warned about growing numbers of the “hidden homeless” stuck in bed and breakfast and dormitory accommodation.

However, some on waiting lists were branded as too fussy for turning down housing for arbitrary reasons such as not being close to family members.

Mr Allen is so alarmed by the 2006 Environment Department figures showing 5,265 of the 115,386 local authority dwellings across the country lying idle, he is set to launch a PAC probe into the matter.

Dublin City Council had the largest number of unused properties at 2,507, Cork city followed with 479, then Cork county (226), Dun Laoghaire Rathdown (170) and Kerry county (164).

In terms of the percentage of an authority’s dwellings that were vacant, Dublin city and Limerick city each had 9.1% of council houses and flats empty, followed by Cavan (7.8%), Roscommon (7.1%); Clare (6.2%), Sligo (6%), Cork City (5.4%), Kerry (5.3%), Waterford County (4.6%) and South Tipp (4.4%).

Fine Gael Cork TD Mr Allen said the level of empty dwellings is unacceptable.

“Valuing these properties at a conservative average of €200,000 each indicates that local authority housing stock to a total value of more than €1 billion was vacant across the country in 2006. “We won’t have the 2007 figures for a while but I’m not optimistic they will show an improvement in the situation. It is totally unacceptable that at a time when housing waiting lists are at record highs such a large amount of property should be vacant.

“No doubt there are acceptable reasons why some houses are empty such as regeneration schemes but not on this scale. This raises major questions about the efficiency with which local authorities operate and the PAC will be seeking answers,” he said.

The Simon Community estimated there were 2,015 people homeless in Dublin alone and a spokesperson said the organisation expected that number to increase when a new survey was completed soon.

Housing Minister Michael Kitt said some people refused local authority housing for reasons such as not being close enough to their parent.

“Some people turn down the offer of council housing for reasons like it not being near their mother, or something like that. That type of attitude can be a big factor for some local authorities,

“The minister would like to see all local authority homes, refurbishments permitting, available for occupation as early as possible,” a spokesman for Mr Kitt said. Number of empty dwellings

* Dublin city: 2,507

* Cork city: 479

* Cork county: 226

* Dun Laoghaire

* Rathdown: 170

* Kerry county: 164.

Percentage of authority’s total stock:

* Dublin city: 9.1%

* Limerick city: 9.1%

* Cavan: 7.8%

* Roscommon: 7.1%

* Clare: 6.2%

* Sligo: 6%

* Cork city: 5.4%

* Kerry: 5.3%

* Waterford county: 4.6%

* South Tipp: 4.4%.