Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 September 2023
503. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify who is responsible to pay the legal fees incurred by the local authority as part of the croí cónaithe grant scheme regarding the legal charge/clawback on the property receiving the grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40009/23]
View answerIn July 2022 the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was launched 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. As part of the conditions associated with the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, there is a requirement that the applicant(s) will live in the qualifying property for a period of at least five years from the date of payment of the Grant. If at any time they sell the property or it ceases to be their principal private residence within ten years, they must reimburse the local authority an element of the full value of the Grant, as follows:• Up to 5 Years – 100% of the monetary amount of the Grant• Over 5 Years and less than or equal to 10 years – 75% of the monetary amount of the Grant• Over 10 Years – No ClawbackIn the event of a fall in the value of the property, the full monetary amount, subject to the percentage clawback above will be repayable to the local authority. An agreement must be concluded between the local authority and the applicant which contains the clawback agreement, including a charge on the property, which shall be binding on the applicant upon drawdown of the grant. The cost of the registration of the charge is to be covered by the local authority who issues the grant payment. Support to local authorities for the administration of the grant is provided by my Department.
