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23 Oct 2025

'Huge waiting list isn't acceptable': Over 50 vacant council houses in Longford

Fine Gael Cllr Peggy Nolan said the houses should be brought back into use quicker in county Longford

'Huge waiting list isn't acceptable': Over 50 vacant council houses in Longford

Cllr Peggy Nolan said it is 'not acceptable' to have a large number of vacant units during a housing crisis,

Longford County Council are making considerable efforts despite over 50 council houses currently lying vacant, according to a Fine Gael senator and councillor.


A Freedom of Information request submitted by Aontú leader, Peadar Tóibín recently found county Longford has 83 vacant council houses, one of the highest numbers in the region.

However, Longford County Council have since confirmed that related to data collated last year and the current number of vacant council houses is 53.


The figures showed that in comparison there are 86 unoccupied council homes in county Cavan, 24 in county Roscommon, and 20 in county Leitrim.

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Fine Gael Cllr Peggy Nolan said county Longford has more council houses than any other local authority in the Midlands and the upkeep on those houses poses challenges.


She stated it is 'not acceptable' to have a large number of vacant units during a housing crisis, but there are valid reasons.
"There is a turnover and when one of those houses is vacated with new legislation now they have to be brought up to a special BER rating and they have to be retrofitted.


"To get contractors and to get everything in line to do that, and there is no way I'm making excuses for houses lying empty when people are crying out for houses, but they can't be reset.

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"Somebody does not just hand in a key today and that house is turned around tomorrow.


"That house has to be literally taken apart, retrofitted and then given out so it takes a number of months and then to get contractors to do it, because it takes various contractors.


"There is a huge waiting list, it isn't acceptable but I understand the reason why they are vacant," she added.


Cllr Nolan stated she believes that while there are a plethora of different factors that lead to vacant council houses the Government could do more to assist local authorities with funding to speed up turnaround times.


Senator Paraic Brady said he was not surprised by the figures on the number of vacant houses but he believes the local authority has been very productive.


"I think per head of capita Longford County Council has delivered more for social housing than any county in the country," he added.


The data obtained by Deputy Tóibín also found that 1,206 people across counties Longford, Leitrim and Roscommon are currently on lhousing waiting lists

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