VACANT LOCAL AUTHORITY houses are going to be renovated into family homes.

A new scheme will see 952 units of accommodation made available across the country.

Families on the housing list will then be given these homes.

Dublin city, Cork city and Fingal will have the highest amount of housing units.

Minister for Housing Jan O’Sullivan said,

I don’t believe we should have so many empty houses when we have such a demand for housing.

Minister Brendan Howlin allocated €15 million for this scheme in the budget.

The Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore said “The additional units are being provided in areas which have a strong social housing demand.

Not only it will see families being put in good homes, but it will also guarantee a rental income for local authority.

“While a lot more work remains to be done, this announcement is a significant step forward and will go a long way towards putting a roof over the heads of hard-pressed families.”

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