€5 million paid by Longford County Council for voids shortfall

Longford County Council has had to pay €5 million out of its own budget to cover the Government shortfall in recent years towards the vacant housing units (voids) scheme and it is an 'acute financial matter'.

That was the message from John McKeon, Head of Finance, IT, Procurement and Facilities, to local representatives after Cllr Peggy Nolan asked if there had been any forthcoming support from Government to ease the burden.

"Has the Government come up with the monies that were owed, €11,000 they are giving us per void and retrofit and it's costing €60,000 so that's a huge pot of money that we have to take out of our own resources," Cllr Nolan said. "This can't continue, it can't throw a budget into disarray."

Last week details of a Freedom of Information request submitted by Aontú leader, Peadar Tóibín emerged which indicated Longford had 83 vacant social housing units.However, after being contacted the local authority later confirmed that they had 53 vacant social houses out of a total stock of 2,264 on March 12 last, a ratio of 2.3%.Mr McKeon said the shortfall figure on each house quoted by Cllr Nolan was correct as he replied and admitted it was a challenging situation.

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"We have had a very aggressive programme here on Longford County Council since 2019 up to now in bringing voids back but as a consequence of that we are shouldering the shortfall all along the way to the tune and it's over €5 million at this stage we're carrying.

"This is what they call an acute financial matter across the sector and you're right."We will continue to look for Central Government to come in and give us some support," he added.Mr McKeon stated the local authority did receive some support over a year ago at the end of 2023 when they received €1.5 million.

"But I think that was a once off and we can't continue the way they are," he added.Councillor Seamus Butler stated the situation was a significant issue locally and nationally.

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Having €308,000 for voids per year over the three years will only allow us the cost of €60,000 will only allow us to do around six houses per year, which would be 18 over the three years.

"The Government sets targets and they have to move. Longford has really improved hugely primarily down to our own expenditure and if they set targets they are duty bound to fund those targets.

"It's not just Longford it's a national issue and in all the furore I think we should let it be known."A refurb can typically take a maximum of maybe six-to-10 weeks but compared to a new build [it's short].

"You have virtually a new house to move into, the standard is second to none in terms of the quality of the work that is being done so I think that is going to be a critical factor going forward.

Cllr Uruemu Adejinmi said considering the housing crisis we have six vacant housing units being brought back was 'quite a low number'.

"Even though the number of voids we have in county Longford compared to the national average is quite low, I think our priority is our housing lists that we need to turn around as quickly as possible.

"I would like to add my voice to that call for increased funding from the State to turn around these voids," she added.