Waterford to receive almost €1.5m funding boost to bring vacant social houses back into use

More than €1.47 million has been allocated to bring vacant social homes back into use across Waterford as part of a national Government effort to tackle housing shortages.

The funding will allow Waterford City and County Council to repair and prepare empty council houses so they can be re-let to new tenants.

The allocation includes €891,000 under the Voids Programme and €583,020 for planned maintenance works, bringing the total funding for Waterford in 2026 to €1,474,020.

This represents an increase of 27.3% on last year's local allocation, according to Waterford TD and Minister of State for Planning and Local Government John Cummins.

Welcoming the funding, Minister Cummins said the programme helps make better use of existing housing.

"The Voids Programme supports local authorities in making vacant homes ready for re-letting and works to tackle vacancy and dereliction to ensure vacant properties are re-used for housing," he said.

READ MORE | Waterford gardaí appeal after car windows 'smashed' within hours in same housing estate

He said bringing empty homes back into use is key to addressing housing pressures in towns and communities across the county.

"Bringing vacant housing back into use across towns and villages is essential to help ease pressure on the existing housing stock. It will boost supply and deliver much-needed social homes, while rejuvenating our towns."

Minister Cummins said nobody wants to see empty council homes while demand for housing remains high.

"No one wants to see empty council properties at a time of such housing need, so this funding will complement existing local authority resources to ensure that properties are returned to productive use as speedily as possible."

He also praised the work of Waterford City and County Council in preparing homes for new tenants.

"I would like to commend Waterford City & County Council for their work in this area but of course there is always room for improvement," he said.

READ MORE | Major €4m boost announced to help older and disabled people adapt homes across Waterford

"The new vacancy and turnaround time targets will mean that properties spend less time empty and more time providing security and stability for people who need them most."

The funding forms part of a €40 million national programme announced by the Government which aims to prepare around 2,200 local authority homes across the country for re-letting in 2026.

Housing Minister James Browne said the initiative is focused on ensuring social homes are brought back into use more quickly.

"Too many social homes have remained vacant for too long, particularly when we are in a housing crisis," he said.

Under a new model being introduced for the Voids Programme, future funding allocations will also be linked to local authority performance, with a focus on reducing vacancy levels and speeding up repair and turnaround times.

Since the programme began in 2014, more than €385 million has been invested nationally, bringing 27,860 vacant social homes back into use.