Strategy to reuse vacant Galway properties as recorded in the census could ease crisis

Galway Bay fm newsroom - A fresh focus on the reuse of vacant properties in Galway in the short term will provide homes for those who urgently need them across the city and county.

That's according to Galway Simon Community following the publication of the Government’s National Vacant Housing Reuse Strategy .

The strategy aims to bring vacant properties back into active use and proposes the use of taxation measures on vacant homes.

2016 Census figures show there were 9,646 vacant homes in county Galway, a vacant rate of 12.3%.

The CSO data records 2,841 in the city with a vacant rate of 8.4%.

Karen Golden, CEO of Galway Simon Community says the strategy could make an impact in addressing the current crisis.