€8.1 million invested locally as refurbishment programme accelerates in recent years
A total of 575 vacant social homes have been brought back into use in Kildare since 2014 under the Government’s Voids Programme.
New figures from the Department of Housing show that Kildare County Council has drawn down €8,096,816 over the past 11 years to refurbish and re-let empty council properties.
That equates to an average refurbishment cost of just over €14,000 per home, broadly in line with the national average.
The programme provides funding to local authorities to prepare vacant properties for new tenants, reducing turnaround times and ensuring social housing stock does not sit idle amid strong demand.
While the scheme has been operating since 2014, the data shows a significant increase in activity in Kildare over the past six years.
Of the 575 homes returned to use locally since the programme began, almost 70 per cent were delivered from 2020 onwards.
Annual figures highlight that acceleration:
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2020: 90 homes
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2021: 74 homes
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2022: 106 homes (the peak year)
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2023: 92 homes
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2024: 75 homes
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2025: 74 homes
In 2025 alone, 74 previously vacant council homes were refurbished and re-let in Kildare.
The increase coincides with a national shift towards a planned maintenance model, designed to identify issues earlier, reduce repair times and minimise the period properties remain empty between tenancies.
With Kildare continuing to experience strong population growth and sustained demand for social housing, returning vacant homes to active use provides a relatively fast and cost-effective way to increase supply.
At just over €14,000 per property on average, refurbishment costs are significantly lower than the cost of building new homes, while also helping to maintain and protect existing housing stock.
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD, today published new figures showing nationally 2,188 vacant social homes were brought back into active use in 2025 under the Voids Programme
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