I propose to take Questions Nos. 186 and 207 together.
In January 2022, my Department communicated with local authorities outlining that it is increasing the funding made available since 2018 from €50,000 to €60,000 per annum from mid-2022 to support the work of a Vacant Homes Office including a vacant homes officer to support the commitment in Housing for All to ensuring that vacant homes officers are full-time officers. Local authorities have been requested to arrange for the vacant homes officer position to become full-time by the end of Q2 2022 and to notify the Department accordingly. I expect that each local authority will have at least one full-time vacant homes officer working in their local authority. My Department understand that there are currently in the region of 3 full-time and 34 part-time vacant homes officers working in local authorities.
The provision of central funding reinforces the capacity of local authorities, including through the important role of vacant homes officers, to ensure a dedicated focus on tackling vacancy and dereliction with a view to increasing the opportunities for residential development.