The government has made €15 million in funding available to renovate vacant Council houses.

It is aimed at bringing 500 empty local authority units back into use by the end of the year.

Councils have until March 27th to submit proposals, and the Housing Minister Jan O'Sullivan will then allocate the funding accordingly.

It is understood jobs in the building and green energy sectors in local communities will also be created, as Councils will be encouraged to use the services of community-based organisations who recruit and train long-term unemployed people for some of the required works.

CEO of the housing charity Threshold is Bob Jordan. He says it is down to local authorities to make the scheme work.