Over €3m allocated to Sligo and Leitrim to tackle vacancy and dereliction

It was announced today, Tuesday, by the Minister for Housing, Darragh O’Brien TD that €3m has been allocated to Sligo and Leitrim local authorities under the URDF Call 3.

This fund is specifically targeted at tackling vacancy and dereliction in cities and towns across the country with the dual benefit of improving streetscapes and providing additional housing. 

Sligo County Council has been allocated €2m and separately €1m to Leitrim County Council. Under this scheme, local authorities will acquire vacant/derelict properties which are either not on the market for sale or to which the market has not responded.

They will then offer these properties 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 programme of acquisitions and disposals is in place. 

Local TD, Frank Feighan has expressed his delight at the funding which he believes will significantly over time deal with dereliction across many towns in the two counties.

“What is really important about the scheme, it will allow the councils to use the funds from the sale of the acquired properties to continue to target derelict buildings, purchase them and ensure that they are brought back to life and allow people to come back into residential use and live in the towns that has seen the absence of people living in our town centres for many years” concluded Deputy Feighan.