Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 April 2023
777. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify whether it will be open to owners of a vacant property or future renters/occupiers of a vacant property or both of the aforementioned categories of applicants to apply for the Croí Cónaithe vacant property refurbishment grant after 1 May 2023, pursuant to the changes recently announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17061/23]
View answer778. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify whether it will be open to the owner of a vacant property or the future renters/occupiers of a vacant property to apply for the Croí Cónaithe vacant property refurbishment grant in respect of each unit in a vacant property being refurbished for use as more than one residential dwelling after 1 May 2023, pursuant to the changes recently announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17062/23]
View answer779. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify whether will be open to the owner a property, occupied as a retail unit on the ground floor with the upper storeys vacant to apply for the Croí Cónaithe vacant property refurbishment grant to refurbish the upper storeys to rent out as a dwelling or dwellings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17063/23]
View answer780. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify what evidence, other than being included on the derelict sites register, will be accepted from applicants for the Croí Cónaithe vacant property refurbishment grant seeking an additional top-up grant of up to €20,000 in respect of a property that is derelict; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17064/23]
View answer826. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the criteria to qualify for the Croí Cónaithe scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17699/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 777 to 780, inclusive, and 826 together.
Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. The Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund is a key initiative which underpins the policy objectives set out in Pathway Four of Housing for All.
In July 2022, the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was launched 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, which was initially launched in respect of vacant properties in towns and villages, was expanded to include eligible vacant properties in both cities and rural areas from 15 November, 2022.
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 top-up grant amount of up to €20,000 is available where the property is confirmed by the applicant to be derelict or if the property is on the Derelict Sites Register, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €50,000.
In the case of a top-up grant in respect of a derelict property not on the Derelict Sites Register, an independent report prepared by an appropriately qualified professional is required to be submitted to the local authority, along with the application, confirming that the property is derelict.
Properties considered for inclusion must be vacant for two years or more and built before 1993. Proof of both vacancy and ownership are required to support the grant payment.
The Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2018 provided for an exemption, up until the end of 2021, from the requirement to obtain planning permission in respect of the change of use of certain vacant commercial premises, including vacant or under-utilised areas over ground-floor shops and offices, to residential use. These Regulations were subsequently extended until the end of 2025. Owners of such properties may be eligible for a Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant.
The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant has been kept under ongoing review since its launch. Government has now decided to further expand the grant eligibility to increase the number of vacant and derelict properties being brought back into use. This includes changing the eligibility date for properties to include properties built prior to 2007, expanding the grant to include properties which are made available for rent by the owner and not solely for owner occupation, as well as reviewing the current grant rates. My Department is currently working on details of this expansion and further announcements on the changes to the scheme will be made very shortly.
