Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 April 2023
288. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide his response to a report (details supplied) from the Heritage Council's CTCHC Programme, Tipperary Town Revitalisation Task Force, and Tipperary County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19950/23]
View answerI note the Tipperary Town Collaborative Town Centre Health Check (CTCHC) Report and welcome that it clearly sets out the value of bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use, delivering housing, regenerating communities as well as meeting sustainability objectives.
Tackling vacancy is a key priority for this Government. Housing for All, sets out a suite of measures to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. Significant progress is being made in the following areas:
• The government launched the Town Centre First policy, a major new policy initiative that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres.
• A €150 million Urban Regeneration Development Fund is being made available for local authorities to acquire vacant or derelict properties and sites for re-use or sale.
• Full-time Vacant Homes Officers are now in place across 30 local authorities.
• The Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund is successfully supporting the refurbishment of vacant and derelict properties through Vacant Homes Refurbishment Grant and the provision of serviced sites for people to build their own homes through the Ready to Build Scheme.
• Planning regulations that exempt certain vacant commercial premises from requiring planning permission to change of use for residential purposes have been extended.
The Vacant Homes Action Plan, which I launched in January, outlines all of the progress that has been made in addressing vacancy along with the actions that are being pursued to return as many vacant properties back to viable use as possible. As part of the Plan, my Department recently launched a new CPO Activation Programme, which provides for a planned, proactive and systematic approach to bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use. This Programme includes guidance and supports for local authorities to actively use their legislative powers to compulsorily acquire vacant and derelict properties, where engagement with owners has been unsuccessful.
The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is being expanded from 1 May to build on the success of the scheme to date and further increase the number of vacant and derelict properties brought back into use. Details of the expansion are as follows:
i. The inclusion of one property which will be made available for rent, by the owner, in addition to one grant for a property which will be a principal private residence of the applicant i.e. a maximum of two applications for a grant will be available;
ii. Changing the eligibility date, which is currently 1993 for the build date, to include vacant and derelict properties built up to and including 2007; and
iii. Increase of the current maximum grant rates from €30,000 to €50,000 for vacant properties and from €50,000 to €70,000 for derelict properties
The work being undertaken to address vacancy and dereliction in towns and villages around the country will continue to play a vital role in delivering homes and revitalising local communities.
