Dáil vote · 11 June 2025

Vacant Council Housing: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]

Question put: "That the motion, as amended, be agreed to."

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What this vote means

Policy motion

A policy motion expresses the House's position or calls for action. It does not itself change the law or legally require the Government to carry out the policy requested.

Tá means yes and Níl means no to the exact question put. The vote alone does not establish a TD's full position or reasons.

DáilDex interpretation of the official wording.

Oireachtas definitions

The result

Carried

Tá (yes): 87
Níl (no): 69
Staon (abstain): 0

Tellers: Tá, Deputies Mary Butler and Emer Currie; Níl, Deputies Pádraig Mac Lochlainn and Denise Mitchell.

Official record Read the debate

How each party voted

Party	Tá	Níl	Staon	No vote	Most voted
Fianna Fáil	44	–	–	4	Tá
Sinn Féin	–	36	–	3	Níl
Fine Gael	35	–	–	3	Tá
Independent	8	3	–	4	No whip
Labour Party	–	11	–	–	Níl
Social Democrats	–	9	–	2	Níl
Independent Ireland	–	3	–	1	Níl
People Before Profit-Solidarity	–	2	–	1

How every TD voted

Showing 174 of 174 TDs

Aengus Ó SnodaighSinn Féin · Dublin South-Central
Níl
Aidan FarrellySocial Democrats · Kildare North
Níl
Aindrias MoynihanFianna Fáil · Cork North-West
Tá
Aisling DempseyFianna Fáil · Meath West
Tá
Alan DillonFine Gael · Mayo
Tá
Alan KellyLabour Party · Tipperary North
Níl
Albert DolanFianna Fáil · Galway East
Tá
Ann GravesSinn Féin · Dublin Fingal East
Níl
Barry HeneghanIndependent · Dublin Bay North
Tá
Barry WardFine Gael · Dún Laoghaire
Tá
Brendan SmithFianna Fáil · Cavan-Monaghan
Tá
Brian BrennanFine Gael · Wicklow-Wexford
Tá
Brian StanleyIndependent · Laois
Níl
Carol NolanIndependent · Offaly
Níl
Cathal CroweFianna Fáil · Clare
Tá
Catherine ArdaghFianna Fáil · Dublin South-Central
Tá
Catherine CallaghanFine Gael · Carlow-Kilkenny
Tá
Catherine ConnollyIndependents 4 Change · Galway West
Níl
Cathy BennettSinn Féin · Cavan-Monaghan
Níl
Charles Ward100% RDR · Donegal
Níl
Charlie McConalogueFianna Fáil · Donegal
Tá
Christopher O'SullivanFianna Fáil · Cork South-West
Tá
Cian O'CallaghanSocial Democrats · Dublin Bay North
Níl
Ciarán AhernLabour Party · Dublin South-West
Níl
Claire KerraneSinn Féin · Roscommon-Galway
No vote
Colm BrophyFine Gael · Dublin South-West
Tá
Colm BurkeFine Gael · Cork North-Central
Tá
Conor D. McGuinnessSinn Féin · Waterford
Níl
Conor SheehanLabour Party · Limerick City
Níl
Cormac DevlinFianna Fáil · Dún Laoghaire
Tá
Danny Healy-RaeIndependent · Kerry
No vote
Dara CallearyFianna Fáil · Mayo
Tá
Darragh O'BrienFianna Fáil · Dublin Fingal East
Tá
Darren O'RourkeSinn Féin · Meath East
Níl
David CullinaneSinn Féin · Waterford
Níl
David MaxwellFine Gael · Cavan-Monaghan
Tá
Denise MitchellSinn Féin · Dublin Bay North
Níl
Dessie EllisSinn Féin · Dublin North-West
Níl
Donna McGettiganSinn Féin · Clare
Níl
Donnchadh Ó LaoghaireSinn Féin · Cork South-Central
Níl
Duncan SmithLabour Party · Dublin Fingal East
Níl
Eamon ScanlonFianna Fáil · Sligo-Leitrim
No vote
Edward TimminsFine Gael · Wicklow
Tá
Emer CurrieFine Gael · Dublin West
Tá
Emer HigginsFine Gael · Dublin Mid-West
Tá
Eoghan KennyLabour Party · Cork North-Central
Níl
Eoin HayesSocial Democrats · Dublin Bay South
Níl
Eoin Ó BroinSinn Féin · Dublin Mid-West
Níl
Erin McGreehanFianna Fáil · Louth
Tá
Fionntán Ó SúilleabháinSinn Féin · Wicklow-Wexford
Níl
Frankie FeighanFine Gael · Sligo-Leitrim
Tá
Gary GannonSocial Democrats · Dublin Central
Níl
Ged NashLabour Party · Louth
Níl
George LawlorLabour Party · Wexford
Níl
Gillian TooleIndependent · Meath East
Tá
Grace BolandFine Gael · Dublin Fingal West
Tá
Helen McEnteeFine Gael · Meath East
Tá
Hildegarde NaughtonFine Gael · Galway West
No vote
Holly CairnsSocial Democrats · Cork South-West
No vote
Ivana BacikLabour Party · Dublin Bay South
Níl
Jack ChambersFianna Fáil · Dublin West
Tá
James BrowneFianna Fáil · Wexford
Tá
James GeogheganFine Gael · Dublin Bay South
Tá
James LawlessFianna Fáil · Kildare North
Tá
James O'ConnorFianna Fáil · Cork East
Tá
Jen CumminsSocial Democrats · Dublin South-Central
Níl
Jennifer Carroll MacNeillFine Gael · Dún Laoghaire
Tá
Jennifer Murnane O'ConnorFianna Fáil · Carlow-Kilkenny
Tá
Jennifer WhitmoreSocial Democrats · Wicklow
Níl
Jerry ButtimerFine Gael · Cork South-Central
Tá
Jim O'CallaghanFianna Fáil · Dublin Bay South
No vote
Joanna ByrneSinn Féin · Louth
Níl
Joe CooneyFine Gael · Clare
Tá
Joe NevilleFine Gael · Kildare North
Tá
John BradySinn Féin · Wicklow
Níl
John ClendennenFine Gael · Offaly
Tá
John ConnollyFianna Fáil · Galway West
Tá
John CumminsFine Gael · Waterford
Tá
John LahartFianna Fáil · Dublin South-West
Tá
John McGuinnessFianna Fáil · Carlow-Kilkenny
No vote
John Paul O'SheaFine Gael · Cork North-West
Tá
Johnny GuirkeSinn Féin · Meath West
Níl
Johnny MythenSinn Féin · Wexford
Níl
Keira KeoghFine Gael · Mayo
Tá
Ken O'FlynnIndependent Ireland · Cork North-Central
Níl
Kevin Boxer MoranIndependent · Longford-Westmeath
Tá
Kieran O'DonnellFine Gael · Limerick City
Tá
Liam QuaideSocial Democrats · Cork East
No vote
Louis O'HaraSinn Féin · Galway East
Níl
Louise O'ReillySinn Féin · Dublin Fingal West
Níl
Maeve O'ConnellFine Gael · Dublin Rathdown
Tá
Máire DevineSinn Féin · Dublin South-Central
Níl
Mairéad FarrellSinn Féin · Galway West
Níl
Malcolm ByrneFianna Fáil · Wicklow-Wexford
Tá
Marian HarkinIndependent · Sligo-Leitrim
Tá
Marie SherlockLabour Party · Dublin Central
Níl
Mark WallLabour Party · Kildare South
Níl
Mark WardSinn Féin · Dublin Mid-West
Níl
Martin DalyFianna Fáil · Roscommon-Galway
Tá
Martin HeydonFine Gael · Kildare South
No vote
Martin KennySinn Féin · Sligo-Leitrim
No vote
Mary ButlerFianna Fáil · Waterford
Tá
Mary Lou McDonaldSinn Féin · Dublin Central
Níl
Matt CarthySinn Féin · Cavan-Monaghan
Níl
Mattie McGrathIndependent · Tipperary South
No vote
Maurice QuinlivanSinn Féin · Limerick City
Níl
Michael CahillFianna Fáil · Kerry
Tá
Michael CollinsIndependent Ireland · Cork South-West
Níl
Michael FitzmauriceIndependent Ireland · Roscommon-Galway
Níl
Michael Healy-RaeIndependent · Kerry
Tá
Michael LowryIndependent · Tipperary North
Tá
Michael MoynihanFianna Fáil · Cork North-West
Tá
Michael MurphyFine Gael · Tipperary South
Tá
Micheál CarrigyFine Gael · Longford-Westmeath
Tá
Micheál MartinFianna Fáil · Cork South-Central
Tá
Naoise Ó CearúilFianna Fáil · Kildare North
Tá
Naoise Ó MuiríFine Gael · Dublin Bay North
Tá
Natasha Newsome DrennanSinn Féin · Carlow-Kilkenny
Níl
Neale RichmondFine Gael · Dublin Rathdown
Tá
Niall CollinsFianna Fáil · Limerick County
Tá
Niamh SmythFianna Fáil · Cavan-Monaghan
Tá
Noel GrealishIndependent · Galway West
Tá
Noel McCarthyFine Gael · Cork East
Tá
Norma FoleyFianna Fáil · Kerry
Tá
Pa DalySinn Féin · Kerry
Níl
Pádraig Mac LochlainnSinn Féin · Donegal
Níl
Pádraig O'SullivanFianna Fáil · Cork North-Central
Tá
Pádraig RiceSocial Democrats · Cork South-Central
Níl
Paschal DonohoeFine Gael · Dublin Central
Tá
Pat BuckleySinn Féin · Cork East
Níl
Pat the Cope GallagherFianna Fáil · Donegal
Tá
Patrick O'DonovanFine Gael · Limerick County
Tá
Paul DonnellySinn Féin · Dublin West
Níl
Paul LawlessAontú · Mayo
Níl
Paul McAuliffeFianna Fáil · Dublin North-West
Tá
Paul MurphyPeople Before Profit-Solidarity · Dublin South-West
Níl
Paul Nicholas GogartyIndependent · Dublin Mid-West
Níl
Paula ButterlyFine Gael · Louth
Tá
Peadar TóibínAontú · Meath West
Níl
Pearse DohertySinn Féin · Donegal
Níl
Peter 'Chap' CleereFianna Fáil · Carlow-Kilkenny
Tá
Peter BurkeFine Gael · Longford-Westmeath
Tá
Peter RocheFine Gael · Galway East
No vote
Réada CroninSinn Féin · Kildare North
Níl
Richard Boyd BarrettPeople Before Profit-Solidarity · Dún Laoghaire
No vote
Richard O'DonoghueIndependent Ireland · Limerick County
No vote
Robert O'DonoghueLabour Party · Dublin Fingal West
Níl
Robert TroyFianna Fáil · Longford-Westmeath
Tá
Roderic O'GormanGreen Party · Dublin West
Níl
Rory HearneSocial Democrats · Dublin North-West
Níl
Rose Conway-WalshSinn Féin · Mayo
No vote
Ruairí Ó MurchúSinn Féin · Louth
Níl
Ruth CoppingerPeople Before Profit-Solidarity · Dublin West
Níl
Ryan O'MearaFianna Fáil · Tipperary North
Tá
Seamus HealyIndependent · Tipperary South
No vote
Séamus McGrathFianna Fáil · Cork South-Central
Tá
Seán CanneyIndependent · Galway East
Tá
Seán CroweSinn Féin · Dublin South-West
Níl
Sean FlemingFianna Fáil · Laois
Tá
Seán Ó FearghaílFianna Fáil · Kildare South
No vote
Shane MoynihanFianna Fáil · Dublin Mid-West
Tá
Shay BrennanFianna Fáil · Dublin Rathdown
Tá
Shónagh Ní RaghallaighSinn Féin · Kildare South
Níl
Simon HarrisFine Gael · Wicklow
Tá
Sinéad GibneySocial Democrats · Dublin Rathdown
Níl
Sorca ClarkeSinn Féin · Longford-Westmeath
Níl
Thomas ByrneFianna Fáil · Meath East
Tá
Thomas GouldSinn Féin · Cork North-Central
Níl
Timmy DooleyFianna Fáil · Clare
Tá
Tom BrabazonFianna Fáil · Dublin Bay North
Tá
Tony McCormackFianna Fáil · Offaly
Tá
Verona MurphyIndependent · Wexford
No vote
William AirdFine Gael · Laois
Tá
Willie O'DeaFianna Fáil · Limerick City
Tá

The full text TDs voted on

This vote decided the motion as changed by the amendments agreed earlier in this debate. Read the original and the amendments below together.

A motion can bundle several proposals together. Tá or Níl applies to the whole question put, so a TD may agree with one part and still vote against it because of another. Read the full wording, and the debate where TDs gave their reasons, before treating this vote as a position on any single point.

The motion as movedMoved by Deputy Thomas Gould on Tuesday, 10 June 2025

That Dáil Éireann:
notes that:
— there are at least 2,656 vacant council homes, excluding Approved Housing Bodies (AHB) homes, across the State, including 776 homes vacant longer than 12 months;
— the National Oversight and Audit Commission Performance Indicator Report 2023, found that the average reletting time was above 33 weeks and cost, on average, €28,347.05;
— this reletting cost represents a 49 per cent increase on costs when compared to 2019;
— central Government have only provided €11,000 per home in 2025, and have only funded the return of 1,900 homes this year;
— the periodic opening of the Voids Programme, and the restriction on local authorities claiming reimbursement, leaves public homes vacant for months even when only minor works are needed;
— over 250,000 maintenance requests were made for local authority owned homes in 2024;
— local authorities have only budgeted on average €347.45 per unit for planned or proactive maintenance; and
— central Government has only provided €67.23 per unit for stock surveys and planned maintenance in 2025, resulting in only €10.1 million this year;
further notes that:
— these empty homes are an insult to those impacted by the housing crisis, and have a negative impact on the surrounding community;
— the housing maintenance direct labour workforce in local authorities was slashed during austerity, and has never returned to its necessary strength; and
— failure to properly fund the maintenance of homes leaves people living in unsuitable and unsafe conditions, while also increasing the repairs needed to relet homes; and
agrees that the Government must:
— create a dedicated Department of Housing, with an annual multi-million euro maintenance fund starting in Budget 2026, to allow local authorities recoup the costs of improving and upgrading existing stock, including vacant council homes;
— remove the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage cap on the amount of money that can be recouped by local authorities when bringing vacant council homes back into use;
— ensure that a standard average turnaround time of 12 weeks is met by all local authorities for bringing vacant council homes back into use, including refurbishment works, allocation and tenanting;
— ensure the maximum use of council employed direct labour, for the refurbishment of vacant council homes being relet and that public procurement rules are applied with flexibility to ensure no delays in cases where private contractors are being used for refurbishment works;
— give local authorities the maximum level of delegated sanctions, to proceed with refurbishment works to bring vacant homes back into use without the need for Department approval, and to allow this process to happen year-round;
— address the delays in securing Garda clearance through better coordination between the Gardaí, councils, AHBs and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage;
— address the delays in local authorities providing nominations to AHB social housing schemes through agreement of a protocol between the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the City and County Management Association and the Irish Council for Social Housing; and
— the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, must publish a real time report every six months, listing the number of vacant homes in each local authority area and the average length of time these properties are vacant, to track progress in addressing council home vacancy.

Amendment No. 1Decided in this voteMoved by the Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Kieran O'Donnell

To delete all words after "Dail Éireann" and substitute the following:
"notes that:
— the Government aims to minimise the level of vacancy in every local authority area, and this is reflected in a decade of Exchequer investment in addressing long term vacancy, while acknowledging that there will always be a level of vacancy in the system, as tenancies end for various reasons and homes are prepared for reletting;
— significant progress has been made over the past 10 years to address long term vacant local authority homes, which has been supported by Government funding of over €360 million;
— funding was ramped up considerably in 2020 to particularly tackle legacy voids and begin the transition to planned maintenance;
— the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC) has found that across the local Government sector, the level of vacant local authority homes is only 2.8 per cent, the lowest rate in many years, reflecting the success of Government's approach;
— there is no cap on the amount that can be spent per home, provided the maximum average of €11,000 is maintained across the works programme;
— in addition, local authorities can complete the suite of works under the Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme (EERP) in parallel, up to a maximum of €48,850 per unit, increasing the overall funding available per unit as compared to the pre-2020 position;
— local authority homes are in general wholly owned by local authorities, which are encouraged to ring-fence some of their own resources from housing rents and other sources to the maintenance and protection of these homes;
— the Voids Programme operates on the same basis as all other Exchequer funded programmes;
— the transition to a programme of planned maintenance began in 2022, and aims to provide a sustainable model of management and maintenance to proactively address the level of maintenance requests annually;
— the commencement of stock condition surveys funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, which are supported by the very recent roll out of a dedicated Information and Communications Technology system which will capture stock condition data and provide for informed work programmes and strategic asset management across all 31 local authorities;

Amendment No. 1 to amendment No. 1Moved by Deputy Paul Lawless

To insert the following after "rolling planned maintenance will support this":
"commits to:
— reducing the turnaround time for vacated local authority homes to new tenants from the current average of eight months, to a two month average turnaround time; and
— ensuring that local authorities be permitted to apply to the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant for the purpose of refurbishment of vacant council houses.".

Wording as published in the official Dáil record, unedited. Read the debate