Almost 350 Cork City Council-owned social housing units are vacant 

A Cork city councillor has called for turnaround times for social housing units to be improved further following confirmation that almost 350 city council-owned properties are currently vacant.

Newly-elected Social Democrats councillor Pádraig Rice submitted a written question to the council executive ahead of a meeting of Cork City Council this week requesting the number of vacant council-owned social housing units.

The South Central ward councillor also asked about the average turnaround time for social housing units and about steps being taken to reduce the length of time people are waiting for social housing. In reply, the council’s housing director, Niall Ó Donnabháin, said that, at present, 348 dwellings out of approximately 11,000 are vacant.

This represents a vacancy of 3.16%, he said.

“It is important to note that the reletting time includes the time taken to both repair and upgrade vacated properties to an acceptable letting standard and to relet those properties in line with the city council’s scheme of lettings,” Mr Ó Donnabháin said.

“As such, the time taken to relet a property is dependent on the condition of a property at the time of return and how long it takes to relet a particular property depending on uptake and acceptance by applicants on the social housing list.

“A comprehensive effort to improve the turnaround time based on process and system improvements is ongoing,” he said.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Rice described it as “deeply frustrating” to see almost 350 council houses vacant.

“It’s unacceptable for houses to be empty while thousands of people wait for homes,” he said.

“Bringing empty homes back into use can be the fastest, most cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to deliver desperately needed social homes.

“In the past, Cork City Council has been far too slow at turning around vacant council houses.

“This has improved lately, but there is a way to go.

“Right now, rents in Cork are unaffordable, and house prices are far too high for people on average incomes. Many people depend on social housing.

“We need far more houses to be built — but not any kind of housing, we need more affordable and social housing.

“It is the only way to end the housing crisis,” he said.

In the meantime, Mr Rice said, full use must be made of all existing houses.

“I want to see the number of vacant council houses reduced and the turnaround times improved even further,” he said.

“I’m going to continue to monitor these figures and to press for improvements,” he added.