Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
814. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of persons who successfully availed of the vacant properties refurbishment grant since it was established; and if a geographical breakdown can be provided in tabular form. [37209/23]
View answer871. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many vacant property reimbursement grants have been issued by local authority, by month, since its introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37762/23]
View answer872. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many derelict property top-up grants have been issued by local authority, by month, since its introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37763/23]
View answer880. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether it is the relevant local authority or his Department that processes vacant property refurbishment grants; the average response time for an initial application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37771/23]
View answer899. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications received under the croí cónaithe vacant property grant scheme since its inception to date for each local authority; the number of applications that have been approved in each local authority, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38161/23]
View answer932. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications received and approved respectively for the croí cónaithe scheme, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38729/23]
View answer942. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has any figures in relation to the number of croí cónaithe applications made to the various local authorities since the scheme's inception, in particular Cavan and Monaghan, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38892/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 814, 871, 872, 880, 899, 932 and 942 together.
Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock.
In July 2022 the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was launched under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund to support bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use.
From 1 May 2023, 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, including the conversion of a property which has not been used as residential heretofore, subject to appropriate planning permission being in place.
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 grant is processed at local authority level with guidance and support provided by the Vacant Homes Unit in my Department.
The grant process involves the local authority receiving and reviewing applications to ensure that the grant conditions are met and the required documentation has been submitted and arranging for a qualified person to visit the property to check the refurbishment work being applied for and to assess the proposed cost.
My Department publishes data on applications for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant on its website on a quarterly basis, which can be accessed at the following link: Vacancy grant statistics (www.gov.ie/en/collection/4bbe4-vacant-property-refurbishment-grant-statistics/#)
