A new strategy is being put in place to quickly deliver vacant homes back into use.

This is being done ahead of a Vacant Homes Strategy, which is to be announced in September.

Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy says several actions are already being taken.

These include the setting up of a dedicated Empty Homes Unit, and for all local authority chiefs to designate vacant homes officers.

While a new vacanthomes.ie website will give property owners information as to what to do to bring their house back into use.

Minister Murphy says: "Increasing supply isn’t just about building new homes, it’s about managing the stock that we already have that's not being used."

Almost 80,000 vacant homes were identified back in April 2016 during the Census.