Over 500 vacant homes in Mayo brought back into use

A total of 518 vacant social homes were brought back into active use in County Mayo between 2014-2023 under the Voids Programme.

That is according to figures released by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

These revelations also show that €3.4 million was spent renovating and refurbishing the homes.

Minister for Housing, Heritage and Local Government, Darragh O’Brien said: "Refurbishment and the return to use of vacant properties helps to reduce pressure on existing housing stock, increase supply, and ultimately, provide much needed homes for people.”

The Voids Programme supports local authorities in preparing vacant homes for re-letting.

It builds on the ongoing work to tackle vacancy and dereliction by bringing these vacant properties, and changing them into usable homes. 

Making more efficient use of existing housing is a key action of the Government’s Housing for All plan. 

Minister O’Brien explained that other than obviously addressing the need for social housing, the refurbishment of these homes also has ‘a positive impact on communities’ and prevents abandonment of vacant properties, which ‘can lead to antisocial behaviour’.

He commanded Mayo County Council helping them to reactivate the homes in 2023 and said ‘their efforts will make a real difference in the lives of over 2,400 households’.

“Through this Housing for All action we have now shifted to a position of planned maintenance of social housing stock to ensure the fastest possible turnaround and re-let times for social housing stock” Mr O’Brien concluded.