Urgent Report: Ireland’s Derelict Homes Crisis to Last 30+ Years

UPDATE: A shocking report from GeoDirectory reveals that it could take over 30 years to address the crisis of derelict homes in Iceland. After five years of dedicated campaigning, advocates Jude Sherry and Dr. Frank O’Connor express deep concern over the slow pace of change in tackling the nation’s housing crisis.

The annual Residential Building Report released this week indicates that while the number of vacant and derelict homes has decreased, the reduction rate is alarmingly slowing. This year, the reduction rate stands at just 2.9%, down from an average of 3.4% over the past five years. Currently, there are still at least 100,149 vacant and derelict homes across the country, making the situation dire.

“This is a hard pill to swallow,” said Dr. O’Connor, highlighting that if the current pace continues, individuals like him may not live to see a resolution to what he calls “Derelict Ireland.” The report underscores the urgent need for systemic changes to address vacancy and dereliction rates and provide the homes desperately needed by the community.

The Croí Conaithe Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, introduced in 2022, offers up to €70,000 for homes needing structural work and €50,000 for those left empty for more than two years. However, despite funding of €112.5 million dispersed, many property owners remain reluctant to renovate, with 22% of owners preferring to hold onto properties as they appreciate in value.

Authorities are urged to enforce existing measures effectively, as the Vacant Homes Tax (VHT) and Derelict Site Levy (DSL) have yielded minimal revenue, only invoicing €1.6 million and €5.6 million respectively in 2023. Revenue collection initiatives have been criticized for their ineffectiveness, with only 1,913 officially registered derelict properties compared to GeoDirectory’s estimate of over 19,000.

As emergency accommodation numbers rise to over 16,000, with €361 million spent in 2024 alone, advocates call for a comprehensive national property registration system. This would streamline data collection and enable authorities to apply taxes and levies effectively, ensuring funding is directed towards creating more housing.

The community is urged to share this urgent update, as the situation continues to evolve. With the future of housing in Ireland hanging in the balance, immediate action is required to address these critical issues and avoid a prolonged crisis.

As the nation grapples with how to combat this growing issue, Sherry and O’Connor remain hopeful that increased awareness and effective policy changes will lead to a significant turnaround in the coming years. The fight against dereliction is far from over, but the time to act is now.