Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 November 2023
93. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for a report on the number of vacant and derelict croí cónaithe applications that have been made per local authority with a breakdown per local authority. [51234/23]
View answerPathway 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 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.
In light of the success of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant to date, and the number of applications received, last week the Government agreed to double the amount of homes assisted under the scheme – raising the target to 4,000 homes to be delivered by 2025.
Demand has been incredibly strong, with over 5,100 applications made to local authorities to date. Of these, over 2,400 have been approved. Payment is made by local authorities, when works are completed and verified (approximately 12 months).
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:www.gov.ie/en/collection/4bbe4-vacant-property-refurbishment-grant-statistics/#:~:text=A%20grant%20of%20up%20to,property%20up%20to%20%E2%82%AC70%2C000.
