Vacant house grant call

Cavan County Council is to write to the Housing Minister calling for a scheme to bring vacant houses back into the housing pool. Cllr Trevor Smith's motion called on the Minister Dara O'Brien to introduce a grant aid scheme to bring vacant dwellings into use.

The Fine Gael representative said the dramatic rise in house prices has caused major issues for many people. He suggested, if there was an incentive to bring unoccupied houses back into use, it would have a great social benefit.

“In Bailieborough town alone there are at least 15 houses lying idle. A grant aid scheme to bring these houses up to a standard where they could be made available for housing would do a lot to alleviate the pressure on the housing market,” said Cllr Smith.

Cllr Sean Smith (FF) seconded the motion saying something had to be done to address the situation.

Cllr TP O'Reilly agreed: “If half the empty houses were available, we would not have the housing problem we are experiencing.”