Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
528. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends to expand the vacant property refurbishment grant to houses in rural areas or whether he intends to provide for a new grant scheme for vacant and derelict houses outside of towns and villages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42262/22]
View answer583. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are plans to extend the Croí Cónaithe towns fund to include rural properties outside towns and villages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43077/22]
View answer585. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to introduce a Croí Cónaithe fund for rural areas, considering the number of vacant or derelict properties in rural locations that are not eligible for the current schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43080/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 528, 583 and 585 together.
On the 14 July, my Department launched the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund. The fund is initially focused on supporting refurbishment of vacant homes in regional towns and villages. The Fund is being delivered by local authorities, and will provide new choices for people to live in towns and villages in Ireland, initially through the provision of a grant to support the refurbishment of vacant properties, with priority given to areas where the level of vacancy or dereliction is high.
The Fund will benefit those who wish to turn a formerly vacant house or building into their principal private residence and become part of the community in the area. This supports the development of town centres that function as viable, vibrant and attractive locations for people to live, work and visit, while also functioning as the service, social, cultural and recreational hub for the local community, key objectives in the National Planning Framework and the Town Centre First Policy, launched in February 2022..
A grant of up to a maximum of €30,000 will be available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence, including the conversion of a property which has not been used as residential heretofore. Where the refurbishment costs are expected to exceed the standard grant of up to €30,000, a maximum top-up grant amount of up to €20,000 will be available where the property is confirmed to be derelict, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €50,000.
There are over 500 towns and villages in Ireland with a population of over 400 people. It is intended that the Crói Cónaithe Fund could potentially apply in all such towns, and also to some smaller villages, which may not be defined as towns or villages for the purposes of CSO Census mapping but with sufficient provision of services and amenities and for example, be walkable to town/village centre along footpaths primarily.
Each local authority should prioritise consideration of applications in town/village locations based on the following criteria:
- the overall levels of vacancy and dereliction within the town or village;
- alignment with policies of the relevant development plan including areas/objectives identified for regeneration;
- the role that the Fund might play as part of wider town regeneration particularly in the light of emerging Town Centre First Plans and integration with other committed regeneration funding.
The Fund, is targeted to deliver some 2,000 homes by 2025. Data will be gathered on the operation of the initiative from the outset and will be kept under ongoing review by my Department. The question of extension of the fund to vacant or derelict properties other than those encompassed by the scheme at present will form part of the ongoing review of the scheme.
