Thirteen vacant council houses in Dungarvan-Lismore District

The number of voids in council stock in the Dungarvan-Lismore District, as of this week, was revealed to be thirteen.

A repeated request made by Cllr Conor D McGuinness at council meetings sought for officials to provide a figure regarding the number of voids, or vacant council housing stock.

Speaking at this week’s online meeting, Cllr McGuinness again requested a figure regarding the number of voids in the Dungarvan Lismore municipal district.

“It’s a very simple question to answer, it’s a number that we’re looking for as part of our role as councillors elected by the people to hold the council to account,” Cllr McGuinness said.

‘DIFFICULT TO LET AREAS’

Senior Resident Engineer Paul Johnston, told council members that the current figure for the district, as of the morning of Monday, July 12, was thirteen.

Mr Johnston clarified that vacant properties refers to a re-let property, one that has already been let and has since become vacant that is now to be refurbished and re-let.

He noted that nine out of those thirteen properties are in two particular locations in Dungarvan town and are proving to be ‘difficult to let areas’.

According to Mr Johnston, Waterford City and County Council has a target of less that 2% of voids at any one given time and as of Monday of this week, the voids percentage was 1.5%.

While he noted that this figure does regularly fluctuate, the council are currently ‘happy’ with it.