Housing Schemes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 December 2022

Thursday, 1 December 2022

Questions (48, 52, 76, 78)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

48. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status on the croí cónaithe scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59576/22]

Paul Kehoe

Question:

52. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the uptake of the croí cónaithe vacant property refurbishment grant; if further funding will be available; if there is additional demand for the croí cónaithe vacant property refurbishment grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59843/22]

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

76. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of homeowners who have applied for the vacant property refurbishment grant, in each county; the number of applications which have been refused; and the number which have been successful in tabular form. [58971/22]

Brendan Griffin

Question:

78. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the date from which croí cónaithe will apply to rural one-off derelict buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56891/22]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I propose to take Questions Nos. 48, 52, 76 and 78 together.

Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. Many areas of cities, towns and villages of all sizes face the blight of vacant properties, which, if brought back into use, could add real vibrancy and provide new accommodation in those areas. The Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund is a key initiative which underpins these policy objectives set out in Pathway Four of Housing for All.Schemes under the Fund, which are delivered by local authorities, provide new choices for people to live in towns and villages in Ireland, through the provision of a grant to support the refurbishment of vacant properties and by providing serviced sites in towns and villages to people in order to build their own homes.In July, I launched the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant as part of the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund. The grant benefits those who wish to turn a formerly vacant house or building into their principal private residence. The grant was initially launched in respect of vacant properties in towns and villages but I am pleased to say that as of the 15 November, the expanded grant also includes eligible vacant properties in both cities and rural areas (in addition to those in towns and villages, which have been eligible since July). Further information is available on the following link: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/969fb-vacant-property-refurbishment-grant-expanded-to-cities-and-remote-rural-areas/.A grant of up to a maximum of €30,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence, including the conversion of a property which has not previously been used as residential. 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 is 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.In September, I launched the Ready to Build Scheme, also funded by the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund. Under the Ready to Build Scheme, local authorities will make serviced sites in towns and villages available to potential individual purchasers to build their homes. These sites will be available at a discount on the market value of the site for the building of a property for occupation as the principal private residence of the purchaser.When the Fund was launched, I committed to ongoing reviews of the schemes under it. Feedback on the Vacant Property Refurbishment Scheme has been very positive, with 419 applications reported to start November. Details of these applications by local authority are set out in the table below. In order for applications to be assessed and a decision made, specified supporting documentation must be submitted with the application and a site visit carried out by the local authority to asses the works being applied for. In some cases this may involve the local authority reverting to the applicant for additional information. It is intended that in future data on the scheme will be published on the Department's website on a quarterly basis.

Local Authority	Applications Received for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant	Approved	Rejected
Carlow	4	2	1
Cavan	12	0	0
Clare	18	1	4
Cork City	1	0	0
Cork county	50	10	17
Donegal	25	0	10
Dublin City	0	0	0
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown	0	0	0
Fingal	6	0	0
Galway City	0	0	0
Galway County	27	7	18
Kerry	36	0	16
Kildare	11	4	0
Kilkenny	12	0	0
Laois	7	2	3
Leitrim	7	1	0
Limerick	23	9	5
Longford	2	0	0
Louth	14	0	0
Mayo	27	8	3
Meath	2	0	1
Monaghan	15	2	8
Offaly	17	2	15
Roscommon	19	0	7
Sligo	13	8	1
South Dublin	0	0	0
Tipperary	30	2	7
Waterford	9	0	0
Westmeath	11	2	4
Wexford	14	3	1
Wicklow	7	3	1
Totals	419	66	122

Local authorities have been instructed by my Department to engage with applicant's who made an application prior to 15 November and whose application was rejected due to not meeting location requirements. They are to advise applicants that where refurbishment work has not yet commenced they may reapply for the grant using the updated documentation.

The operation of schemes under the fund is delegated to and managed by local authorities. In 2022, it is not anticipated that there will be a constraint on allocations. Expenditure and associated allocations will be kept under review for 2023.

Question No. 49 answered with Question No. 32.