Average cost of bringing 'void' house in Longford back into active use is €41,000

Granard Municipal District last week accepted and approved their 2025 General Municipal Allocation of over €110,000, an increase of €10,000 on last year which was welcomed by councillors.

John McKeon, the Head of Finance at Longford County Council, outlined that the total suggested allocation will be €110,200.

A breakdown of the suggested spending shows that €34,000 will be spent on 'Special projects' -a €9,000 increase on last year, while €44,700 will be given to 'Voluntary bodies', an increase of €135.

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Meanwhile, other suggested 2025 spending outlays such as 'Broadband Connection Points' (€1,250), 'Christmas Lights' (€5,000), 'Tidy Towns/ Development Committees' (€14,985), 'Amenities' (€2,000) and 'Town Twinning (€7,000) will remain the same as 2024.

Mr McKeon said they face additional challenges around housing and their maintenance budget as inflation has steadily increased.

The Voids Programme supports local authorities in preparing vacant homes for re-letting and it assists with the ongoing work to tackle vacancy and dereliction to bring vacant properties into re-use for housing.

Mr McKeon said they get refunded €11,000 from Central Government for Voids.

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"It is currently costing us an average of €41,000 per unit which is a lot to make up. To bring every house back into active use costs about €40,000," he added.

Mr McKeon said a decision was taken in September that there would be no change to the Local Property Tax.

"There is €10,000 extra for each municipal district every year for the next five years," he added.

Fine Gael Cllr Paraic Brady commended the presentation and said he welcomed the fact the LPT will not change.

Independent Councillor Turlough McGovern, Fianna Fáil Cllr David Cassidy and Fine Gael representatives Cllr Padraig McNamara, Cllr Garry Murtagh and Cllr Brady said they were pleased by the extra €10,000.

Cllr McGovern proposed the adoption of the GMA and this was seconded by Cllr Brady with unanimous support.