Louth County Council welcomes €7m allocation to target vacancy and dereliction

Louth County Council has welcomed the news that it has been allocated funding of €7 million to target vacancy and dereliction in the towns of Drogheda and Dundalk. The funding is provided by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage under the Call 3 URDF funding stream. 

The URDF is a flagship element of Project Ireland 2040 and call 3 is key action in the Government’s Vacant Homes Action Plan2023. The third call is specifically designed to address long term vacancy and dereliction across the country and encourage activation of vacant properties and to bring stock back into productive use. This initiative is also in support of objectives under the revised Housing for All and Town Centre First policy.

Chief Executive of Louth County Council, Ms. Joan Martin said: “We are delighted to receive the allocation of €7m from the URDF, this will enable Louth County Council to progress our work in activating vacant and derelict properties in Drogheda and Dundalk which are designated as regional growth centres. 

"Bringing these properties back into residential use will add renewed vibrancy and vitality into our towns. This programme complements existing schemes already in place to tackle vacancy and dereliction”.

The funding will provide for the acquisition of vacant/derelict properties which are either not on the market for sale or to which the market has not responded.

It is intended that properties could be acquired by agreement or under the CPO process and then offered for private sale to individuals, who in return will commit to bringing the property into use as a home. Proceeds from the sale of these properties will ensure a rolling long term programme of acquisitions and disposals is in place.

The funding allocation is based on a list of properties provided by Louth County Council that have been identified as long term vacant and/or derelict and which may be suitable for activation using the revolving fund.