60 social homes reactivated in Laois
Investment of €660,000 helped bring 60 homes back into use in Laois during 2024 as part of the Government’s Voids Programme.
This follows on from the 48 homes returned to use in Laois during 2023.
The Voids Programme supports local authorities in preparing vacant homes for re-letting as part of works to “tackle vacancy and dereliction to ensure vacant properties are re-used for housing.”
The news comes as Laois County Council has “shifted towards a planned maintenance model,” which the Government says will lead to “quicker repairs, continuous use, and faster re-letting of social homes.”
Local Fine Gael TD Willie Aird welcomed the figures, saying: “Bringing vacant housing back into use across towns and villages is essential to help ease pressure on the existing housing stock. It will boost supply and deliver much-needed social homes, while rejuvenating our towns.
“No one wants to see empty buildings in their towns or villages that could be used as homes, so it’s fantastic to see buildings being brought back into use for social housing in Laois.
“Since 2014 there has been 409 houses brought back into use in County Laois, with funding of €4,132,796, showing the success of the programme since its introduction.”
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD, said: “The Department is acting quickly to bring vacant social housing back into use across towns and villages, which is critical to help ease pressure on the existing housing stock, boost supply, and ultimately to provide much-needed homes.
“Beyond addressing the demand for social housing, renovating these unoccupied homes also benefits communities by preventing decline and abandonment.”
€1,861,224 Housing Adaption Grants Approved for Laois
The government have announced that they will be providing €1,861,224 Housing Adaption Grants to Laois for 2025.
This 36% major increase in funding this year is up from €1,368,871 in 2024.
This will help more people in Laois who need housing adaption grants approved and works to be carried out this year.
This grant scheme can be used for; accessible bathroom facilities, accessible showers, stair lifts, grab rails, adding downstairs bedrooms and bathrooms, ramps for improving access to homes.
Laois TDs Sean Fleming and Willie Aird, plus local Councillor Conor Bergin, all welcomed the funding.
Fleming said: “Overall, the Government has provided an increase in this fund of over 30% nationwide.
“This represents our commitment to helping people live in comfort in their own homes and these grants are a vital part of this.
“I would urge people who are waiting on these grants or want to apply for works to be carried out to contact Laois County Council to discuss their requirements so that these improvements can be carried out to help them live in comfort in their own homes.”
Aird added: “I’ve met many and supported grant recipients across our County and I’ve witnessed first-hand the huge difference it has made in empowering older and disabled people to live
independently at home in their own communities for longer.
“I also want to thank Laois County Council who work hard to administer the grants, assess applications, and arrange home inspections where adaptations are proposed.
“Fine Gael will always fight for people with disabilities and older people, particularly when it comes to housing.
“Our party is committed to supporting people who need it most, and this funding is a key example of this.”
Free book-bags for pre-school children in Laois
Book bags will be available for young children across Laois, with books and resources included to support parents and children in the transition to primary school.
Families of children leaving pre-school and starting primary school are invited to visit their local library to pick up a book bag and take the opportunity to join the library as part of the ‘My Little Library’ initiative.
110,000 free books will be available nationally and books are available in both English and Irish.
“This is great news for families with young children in Laois, who want to take the time over the summer to prepare their children to transition to primary school,” Deputy Willie Aird said.
“The bags will be available throughout the summer, and I encourage all families to join their local library in Laois if they aren’t already members.
“The children can join their library along with their families, and choose their own books to borrow, all for free. For many children in Laois, this could be the start of a lifelong love of reading.
“These books and stories will help each child prepare for this big step. Books are a great way of helping parents support their children with their early language and literacy development.
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