€7.3m funding to house 300+ familes in Cork

Funds have been granted to bring more than 330 uninhabitable social housing units back into use, it was announced this week.

A total of €7,297,182 has been allocated by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to Cork City and Cork County Councils for the refurbishment of 331 units.

Overall, up to 2,500 social housing units across the country refurbished and re-let to individuals and families, struggling with homelessness or on the social housing list.

The funds include over €4.25m for Cork City Council and over €3m for Cork County Council as part of the 2020 Voids Stimulus Programme announced by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien.

Applications are categorised into three funding streams; standard voids at an average cost of approximately €11,500, homeless voids at an average cost of €17,300 and long-term voids at an average cost of €47,000.

Minister O’Brien said: “The department is now in a position to approve applications and local authorities such as Cork City and Cork County Council can get to work in bringing vacant social housing units back into use.

“I have made it very clear that I want to see works carried out and all units allocated by the end of this year and local authorities will be providing status updates to the Department. We know that Covid-19 has had an impact on housing delivery targets this year so the refurbishment and re-letting of voids is vitally important.”

Deputy Colm Burke welcomed the news and said he was delighted that the two councils will be allocated the funding, which will help individuals and families who are struggling with homelessness or who are on the social housing list.

“The Department is in a position to approve these applications and Cork City Council and Cork County Council can now begin their work on making these vacant units available for individuals and families so they can start a new chapter in their lives and make a home for themselves,” he said.

Back in August, funding of €40 million was announced to return of approximately 2,500 vacant local authority properties to productive use. Minister O’Brien said: “As part of the July Stimulus I secured an extra €40m in funding for the refurbishment of social housing stock. This funding will be used to target 2,500 social housing units so that they can be re-let.”