€1.29 Million Funding Increase for Wexford to Revitalize Social Housing

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD, has unveiled a €1.29 million funding allocation for Wexford as part of efforts to accelerate the return of vacant social homes to use. The funding, a 30.2% increase from last year, will help local authorities reduce turnaround times for re-letting from 18 to 12 weeks by 2029.

This announcement is part of a larger €40 million national initiative for 2026, which aims to bring 2,200 vacant social homes back into use across the country. Minister Browne highlighted the importance of reducing vacancy levels during the ongoing housing crisis, stating, "Too many social homes have remained vacant for too long. This new model ensures homes are returned to families faster, providing security and stability where it’s needed most."

The funding boost is tied to a new performance-based model for the Voids Programme, with future allocations contingent on local authorities meeting targets for reducing vacancy rates and improving turnaround times. By 2027, authorities will aim for a vacancy rate of just 2%, with further reductions in turnaround times planned for 2028 and 2029.

Since the start of the Voids Programme in 2014, over €385 million has been invested to bring 27,860 homes back into use. As part of a shift towards a planned maintenance model, this strategy is designed to enable quicker repairs, reduce downtime, and increase housing availability across the country.

This funding announcement signals a clear commitment to maximizing the use of existing housing resources, addressing the housing crisis, and improving the lives of families across Wexford and beyond.