Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock.
The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant supports bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use. A grant of up to a maximum of €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent.
Where the refurbishment costs are expected to exceed the standard grant of up to €50,000, a maximum top-up grant amount of up to €20,000 is available where the property is confirmed by the applicant to be derelict or where the property is already on the local authority’s Derelict Sites Register, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €70,000. The grant is available in respect of vacant and derelict properties built up to and including 2007, in towns, villages, cities and rural areas. The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is available to properties which have been vacant for 2 years.
The objective of the grant scheme is to refurbish and bring existing vacant and derelict properties back into use. While demolition and extension works can form part of an application for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, such works must be part of a refurbishment of an existing dwelling in keeping with the objectives of the scheme.
The scheme is administered and managed by local authorities who assess all applications in line with the scheme qualifying criteria. The Vacant Homes Unit in my Department offers ongoing support and guidance to local authorities in the administration of the scheme.
I have no function in respect of individual cases. I note that applicants generally can avail of Government supported grant schemes in addition to the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant such as the Built Heritage Investment Scheme and the Historic Structures Fund which offers conservation grants for works to heritage structures and buildings. These grant programmes offered by my Department which are administered by local authorities fund conservation works in a wide range of historic buildings and also support conservation works to structures and buildings including protected structures.
When the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund was launched, a commitment was given that the schemes funded by it would be kept under ongoing review. A comprehensive review and evaluation of the schemes under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund is underway and is expected to be completed by mid-2024.
