3,500 local authority homes vacant

TD's fury at empty houses  | Leo defends State's policies

- LOUISE BURNE

TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar said local authority houses can be vacant for a "good reason" as figures show more than 3,500 council homes are empty.

The figures come at a time where 12,847 adults and children are living in emergency accommodation.

Figures released to Aontu leader Peadar Toibin following Freedom of Information requests to all local authorities, found there are more than 3,500 properties currently vacant.

They also show that nationally there are 98,171 people on housing waiting lists, 54,468 households or people in receipt of the Housing Assistance Payment and 10,603 in the Rental Accommodation Scheme.

Of the vacant properties, 712 are owned by Dublin City Council, Cork City Council has 350, Limerick City and County Council owns 228, while Cork County Council has 184.