Written Answers Nos. 297-316
297. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of households estimated not to be paying their television licence in each of the years 2022 and 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55891/23]
View answerThe estimated number of licensable premises not paying a tv license is calculated as follows;
comparing the total number of licensable premises with the total number of TV Licences issued, including both direct sales by An Post and ‘free’ licences provided by the Department of Social Protection under the Household Benefits Package. The number of licensable dwellings is based on CSO data, which is modified to account for homes which are believed to be without a liable device using data from TAM Nielsen regarding household TV penetration. The formula employed to arrive at the number of non-licenced premises is agreed by my Department, An Post and RTÉ.
In 2022, there were 1,653,759 licensable premises and the total TV Licences issued amounted to 1,442,236 (947,924 from direct sales by An Post and 494,312 ‘free’ licences provided under the Household Benefits Package). This means that the number of households estimated not to be paying their television licence is 2022 was 211,523, approximately 13%.
As final TV Licence and licensable premises figures for 2023 are not yet available, it is difficult make accurate an estimation. As the Deputy will be aware, there has been a decline in licence fees issued since late June, which has averaged up to 30% compared to last year. While the situation is still fluid, there has been signs of recovery in recent weeks, with the decline averaging approximately 13% since mid-November. As such, the overall evasion rate for 2023 is likely to be approximately 25%.
As I have stated previously, public service content and public service broadcasting is a vital pillar of our society and indeed our democracy. As such it needs to be supported, and therefore I again urge everyone who is required to have a TV licence to purchase or renew it so that the public service content which the TV licence supports, across all broadcasters, can continue to be provided for the benefit of us all.
298. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to confirm that relevant qualifying media organisations will be in a position to draw down funding from the recently announced local democracy reporting scheme and the court reporting scheme before the local and European Parliament elections in June 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55898/23]
View answer299. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if schemes (details supplied) will be in place prior to the referendum scheduled for 8 March 2024 and prior to the local and European elections in June 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55909/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 298 and 299 together.
The independent radio sector plays an essential role in sharing reliable and relevant news and bringing communities together. The wider media sector in Ireland, which is a vital element of our democracy and society as a whole, is undergoing fundamental change. This is in part due to the increased digitalisation of news and media content generally and the associated decline in advertising revenue as a consequence.
The Report of the Future of Media Commission examined the challenges faced by the media sector, including the radio sector, and consequent impact on the provision of public service content. The Report made a number of recommendations to counter these challenges and to support the provision of public service content.
One recommendation made by the Future of Media Commission was the establishment of a new Media Fund to provide support for the provision of public service content by the wider media and journalism sector at local, regional and national levels on a platform neutral basis. The Media Fund is being established on an administrative basis, with the Local Democracy and Courts Reporting Schemes being prioritised for implementation by Coimisiún na Meán, with €6m allocated in Budget 2024 for this purpose.
My officials have consulted extensively with members of the Future of Media Commission Stakeholder Consultative Forum, which includes representatives from the independent radio sector, throughout the year as part of the high level policy development process for the schemes. My officials will continue to engage with these members and indeed with all stakeholders to keep them informed of developments on this matter.
It is considered that the draft Schemes may constitute State Aid to economic operators in the news and current affairs market. Accordingly, the schemes may require a full State Aid notification to, and the approval of, the European Commission. The pre-notification form for the media fund schemes was received by the European Commission on 6th September 2023 and a response from the European Commission is awaited. Once the pre-notification process is complete, a formal State Aid notification, if required, will be submitted to the European Commission. Following State aid approval, Coimisiún na Meán will be in a position to implement the schemes.
In the meantime, the detailed design of the schemes based on the high level policy principles developed by my Department is currently being undertaken by Coimisiún na Meán. It is expected that Coimisiún na Meán will progress further stakeholder consultation on the detailed design of the schemes in early 2024. Subject to State Aid approval, it is expected that the schemes will commence in 2024 but it is not possible to provide a precise timeline as this depends on the timing and nature of the response of the European Commission.
It should be noted that the purpose and delivery of the Schemes is not directly linked to the local and European elections or any upcoming referendum. The overall purpose of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme is to support local democracy reporting on a general basis through the provision of comprehensive coverage of the proceedings of local authorities and associated committees.
In addition, it is intended that local democracy reporters will carry out other tasks outside of providing reports of meetings, including reporting on the functions and activities of local authorities, reviewing publications and records to identify stories of public interest and to report on other matters relevant to local democracy which are in the public interest. While the role of a local democracy reporter could include the provision of coverage relating to elections, this is not the core purpose of the scheme.
Existing supports for the radio sector have been provided through the Sound and Vision Scheme which is administered by Coimisiún na Meán. Under the current legislation and general exemption for the Scheme from State Aid rules by the European Commission, news and current affairs programming cannot currently be supported through Sound and Vision. However, the Future of Media Commission recommended that this be reviewed, and this will be done next year.
In the meantime, this year I provided additional Exchequer funding for a special radio sector round of Sound and Vision which provided €2.4m in supports. The radio sector also received significant funding from other Sound and Vision rounds announced this year. 35 projects received a total of €543,000 from announcements made in August, while another 67 radio projects received €636,000 from Round 47 which was announced last April. The next round of funding is currently open for applicants and will again provide further supports to the radio sector in creating quality content for Irish audiences right throughout the country.
300. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cén céatadán de bhuiséad fógraíochta a Roinne do 2023 atá caite go dtí seo i mbliana ar fhógraíocht a dhéanamh sna meáin Ghaeilge agus an bhféadfadh sí a dheimhniú go mbainfear amach roimh dheireadh na bliana an céatadán 5% a leagtar síos in Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú), 2021; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [56007/23]
View answer301. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cén céatadán de bhuiséad fógraíochta 2023 na gcomhlachtaí poiblí a thagann faoi scáth a Roinne atá caite go dtí seo i mbliana ar fhógraíocht a dhéanamh sna meáin Ghaeilge agus an bhféadfadh sí a dheimhniú go mbainfidh na comhlachtaí sin amach roimh dheireadh na bliana an céatadán 5% a leagtar sios in Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú), 2021; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [56025/23]
View answer302. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cén céatadán de bhuiséad fógraíochta a Roinne do 2023 atá caite go dtí seo i mbliana ar fhógraíocht a dhéanamh i nGaeilge agus an bhféadfadh sí a dheimhniú go mbainfear amach roimh dheireadh na bliana an céatadán 20% a leagtar síos in Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú), 2021; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [56043/23]
View answer303. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cén céatadán de bhuiséad fógraíochta 2023 na gcomhlachtaí poiblí a thagann faoi scáth a Roinne atá caite go dtí seo i mbliana ar fhógraíocht i nGaeilge agus an bhféadfadh sí a dheimhniú go mbainfidh na comhlachtaí sin amach roimh dheireadh na bliana seo an céatadán 20% a leagtar sios in Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú), 2021; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [56061/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 300 to 303, inclusive, together.
I gcomhréir le treoir Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga ar an ábhar, tá mo Roinnse ag obair i dtreo tuairisciú a dhéanamh i leith fheidhmiú Alt 10A d’Achtanna na dTeangacha Oifigiúla 2003-2021 in 2023 faoi dheireadh Ráithe 1 2024 agus beidh na sonraí mar atá lorgtha ag an Teachta ar fáil an uair sin.
Maidir le comhlachtaí poiblí faoi scáth an Achta, is ceist oibriúcháin do chomhlachtaí poiblí ainmnithe faoin Acht iad féin a shásamh maidir lena gcuid comhlíontachta le forálacha an Achta agus is gnó é d’Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga monatóireacht a dhéanamh ar an gcomhlíontacht sin ansin. Níl aon ról ag mo Roinnse sa mhéid sin.
304. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the main policy achievements of her Department since 27 June 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56119/23]
View answerAs stated in my Department's Statement of Strategy 2023-2025, the mission of my Department is to lead the sustainable development of Tourism, Media and the Gaeltacht and promote participation in the Culture, Arts, and Sports sectors and the Irish language, supporting social progress, and enhancing cultural and economic growth across Irish society.
My Department implements policy to ensure the achievement of this mission and details on all of the recent policy achievements are detailed in the Department's Annual Reports, the most recent of which is available at the following link: (www.gov.ie/en/publication/7153c-annual-report-2022/).
The main policy and legislative priorities for my Department are detailed in its Statement of Strategy 2023-2025 (www.gov.ie/en/publication/502f6-statement-of-strategy-2023-2025). The strategies to be followed by my Department in the delivery of these diverse but critical work programmes, and the indicators to be used in tracking progress towards achieving the intended outcomes, are set out in the Statement of Strategy.
I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question 291 of Thursday, 29 June 2023, in which I set out the main policy achievements of my Department since its establishment. I also would refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question 89 of Wednesday 6 December 2023, in which I set out the main policy achievements of my Department in 2023.
305. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the additional measures that will be introduced to deal with the spread of misinformation on social media platforms; if she is satisfied that legislation enacted both at national and EU level is adequate to ban the incitement of hatred on such platforms and ensure proper protection of the public, and particularly children, from harm; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56125/23]
View answerIn terms of the measures to address misinformation and disinformation, the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act was passed in December 2022 and provided for the establishment of Coimisiún na Meán, Ireland’s new online safety and media regulator. An Coimisiún will be prioritising the online safety of children and addressing harmful online content like disinformation. An Coimisiún is independent in the exercise of its functions.
An Coimisiún was formally established in March 2023 with the commencement of the Act. On 8 December, An Coimisiún published its first draft online safety code which sets out rules for how designated online services deal with defined categories of harmful online content, including extremist content like hate speech, threats and incitement to violence. The code (and online safety guidance materials) also addresses harmful and age-inappropriate online content, including cyberbullying material, content promoting suicide, self-harm or eating disorders and pornographic material.
Failure to comply with an online safety code can lead to the imposition of significant financial sanctions of up to €20 million or 10% of turnover and continued non-compliance can lead to criminal penalties. An Coimisiún expects to adopt this code in the first half of 2024.
Alongside the OSMR Act, since August 2023, the EU Digital Services Act (DSA) Digital Services Act applies to very large online platforms. It will apply to all platforms from February 2024. Under the DSA, the European Commission and An Coimisiún (as Digital Services Coordinator) share responsibility for supervising the Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs). Very large platforms have extra obligations under the DSA, in terms of having to do risk assessments and take mitigation measures in respect of illegal online content, harmful content like disinformation and the exposure of children and young people to age-inappropriate content. Their risk assessment and mitigation plans are currently being assessed by the European Commission. These services must then address this risk of this exposure through a range of mitigation measures, including age-verification or age-assurance.
On 5 December 2023, the Government published the Digital Services Bill to provide for the EU Digital Services Act in Ireland’s national law and to formally designate Coimisiún na Meán as Digital Services Coordinator.
More broadly at European level, in May 2022, the European Commission launched a new European Strategy for a Better Internet for Kids. This Strategy places a strong focus on providing age-appropriate online experiences. In order to facilitate age verification, the European Commission has committed to work with Member States and promote EU standardisation in order to strengthen effective age-verification methods. In particular, the Commission has committed to facilitating a comprehensive code of conduct on age-appropriate design by 2024 and indicated that the code could provide for age verification for accessing certain online content.
Finally, in order to address the spread with disinformation, there is a need for co-ordination of a range of existing and new initiatives. This was recognised in the Future of Media Commission report which recommended a national counter disinformation strategy. In fulfilment of that recommendation, an independently chaired working group was established in February 2023 to draft a strategy which aims to coordinate national efforts to combat disinformation and provide a joined-up approach. The Group has met regularly since establishment, held an online public consultation and a stakeholder consultation forum and aims to publish the strategy in Q1 2024.
This suite of regulation and initiatives will go a long way to reducing the availability of harmful online content and in particular, the exposure of children to such content, and when fully implemented over the coming period, will serve to keep them safer online.
306. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department will provide additional funding to ensure the IMMA satellite museum initiative in Ballina, County Mayo, goes ahead following the suspension of the IIP programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56204/23]
View answerAs I outlined in my response to Parliamentary Question 402 of 13 July 2023, regarding a proposal received by the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) for an IMMA satellite gallery in Ballina, County Mayo, IMMA had referred the project back to the proposers for a review of the financial considerations in light of its dependence on the now-closed Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP). Subsequently the Board of IMMA Board decided that this project sat outside the scope of IMMA’s draft Statement of Strategy for the period 2023-2027, and that it would not be possible to progress the proposed collaboration. I am advised that the project proposers have acknowledged IMMA's position and discussions between the proposers and IMMA on the matter have since concluded.
307. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans for future development of the Wild Atlantic Way tourism experience; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56209/23]
View answerMy Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy and implementation of that policy is a matter for the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, as well as certain other bodies.
The matter raised is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred this question to them for direct response to the Deputy. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
308. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media what progress has been made on the development of an Irish sea coastal route experience; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56210/23]
View answerMy Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy and implementation of that policy is a matter for the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, as well as certain other bodies.
The matter raised is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred this question to them for direct response to the Deputy. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
309. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media what progress has been made on developing a wild Atlantic walkway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56211/23]
View answerMy Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy and implementation of that policy is a matter for the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, as well as certain other bodies.
The matter raised is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred this question to them for direct response to the Deputy. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
310. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans for the US market in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56212/23]
View answerMy Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy and the implementation of that policy is a matter for the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, as well as certain other bodies.
Tourism Ireland is the body responsible for marketing the island of Ireland overseas as a leading holiday destination. It undertook an extensive and targeted programme of marketing activity throughout 2023 to promote the island of Ireland in the United States.
With regard to the particular matter of plans for the US market in 2024, the Deputy will be aware that this is an operational matter for Tourism Ireland. I have referred the Deputy's question to Tourism Ireland and asked them to reply directly to the Deputy with further information on this matter. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
311. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she continues to support the application for a swimming pool in Maynooth, County Kildare, to cater for the surrounding area as well as a student population of 17,000 and the need to avail of the offers available from Kildare County Council and Maynooth College; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56249/23]
View answerThe National Sports Policy, which was published in 2018, provided for the establishment of a Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). The aim of the LSSIF is to provide Exchequer support for larger sports facility projects where the Exchequer investment would be greater than the maximum amount available under the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP).
The first call for proposals under the LSSIF closed in 2019 with applications confined to Local Authorities and National Governing Bodies of Sport. New swimming pool projects and the refurbishment of existing swimming pools were eligible to apply for LSSIF grant funding subject to published guidelines and regulations. All applications were assessed in accordance with the published Evaluation Procedures and Guidelines with the first allocations announced in January 2020.
An application was received from Kildare County Council for design funding towards a new swimming pool in Maynooth with €1 million sought. The total funding applied for under the scheme significantly exceeded the amount available to allocate and the swimming pool project in Maynooth did not score sufficiently highly to be awarded a grant.
Minister Martin and I recently confirmed that a new round of LSSIF will open for applications in the first half of 2024, with the dates, terms and conditions to be published on the Department’s website in due course. I would encourage all eligible projects to consider applying for this competitive application process when it opens in the first half of 2024.
312. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the degree to which she continues to acknowledge the sporting and recreational needs in all the towns throughout Kildare north given the burgeoning population and the need extra facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56250/23]
View answerThe Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) has transformed the sporting landscape of Ireland with improvements in the quality and quantity of sporting facilities in virtually every village, town and city in the country. Over 13,000 projects have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998, bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.15 billion. The Programme for Government commits to continuing the SCEP and to prioritising the investment in disadvantaged areas.
After each round of the Programme, a review is undertaken to identify any changes required to further improve the scheme. The 2020 Review was published earlier this year and provides a comprehensive look at all aspects of the 2020 round, including statistical data on how the funding was allocated.
Among the recommendations contained in the Review was a continued prioritisation of projects that share facilities with other sports and further enhanced investment in areas of disadvantage. The Review also identified new areas for focus including, inter alia, the need to prioritise applications from areas witnessing significant population growth. The level of existing facilities in an area will continue to be a factor when scoring applications under the 2023 round with areas lacking in sufficient sports facilities being prioritised.
Those areas of focus were reflected in the published Guide to Making an Application for the 2023 round. Work is now underway on finalising the "Scoring System and Assessment Manual" for the 2023 round and I hope to have this published shortly. Simultaneously, I also plan to publish the full list of all applications received by county including the relevant sport type for each application received. Once these documents are published, the detailed assessment work can commence.
313. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide the number of public servants servicing on State boards since 2006 in an independent capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55910/23]
View answerThe information requested is not held by my Department.
In making appointments to State boards under my remit, my Department operates in accordance with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards, published in November 2014.
The Public Appointments Service has responsibility for managing an open, accessible and transparent system to support Ministers in making State board appointments and it is open to the public to apply for positions advertised on the stateboards.ie website.
Although the information requested in the Question may be available as part of the original application and appointment processes for State board membership, under General Data Protection Regulation guidelines, my Department does not have access to this information once appointments have been made.
The names of individuals currently serving on State Boards under the aegis of my Department are available on the following link:
membership.stateboards.per.gov.ie/department/Department%20of%20Housing,%20Local%20Government%20and%20Heritage/.
314. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which conservation of game and other bird species continue to be protected in order to ensure maximum protection for various games species such as grouse, partridge, woodcock and pheasant as well as such special such as the landrail; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56243/23]
View answerAll wild birds that occur naturally in the wild in Ireland are protected under wildlife legislation. This includes the Wildlife Acts and the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011. My Department is currently undertaking a project to review and update wildlife legislation. This is an extensive review and is a multi-year project. It will examine closely the effectiveness of our legislation in protecting wildlife and regulating activities that adversely impact on wildlife and biodiversity.
Some of the aforementioned species (i.e. Red Grouse, Woodcock, Grey Partridge, Corncrake) are all red-listed Birds of Conservation Concern in Ireland based on recorded declines in breeding populations and/or breeding distribution. The Grey Partridge for example, is wholly dependent on Irish farmed landscapes for its entire life cycle. Changes to these farmed landscapes due to more intensive agricultural practices of recent decades (e.g. frequent ploughing, pesticides), along with other land-use changes (e.g. afforestation) have led to degradation, fragmentation and loss of supporting habitats for these and other ground-nesting birds.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service has supported and/or supports a number of relevant projects, in recent decades (please refer to the links provided below for further details). The information collected has been used to inform Ireland’s reporting under the EU Birds Directive on the status of these species as recently as 2019.
• The link to the updated EU Birds Directive Article 12 reporting page can be found online at the following link: cdr.eionet.europa.eu/help/birds_art12
Projects supported include the following:
• www.corncrakelife.ie/ Corncrake (Traonach) Life
• www.ballydanganbog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Project-Report-2021.pdf
• www.ucc.ie/en/ornithology/projects/woodcock-phd/#hunting-sustainability
• www.npws.ie/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/2013_RedGrouse_SAP.pdf
• www.gov.ie/en/service/f5a48-agri-climate-rural-environment-scheme-acres/
• www.gov.ie/en/service/f5a48-agri-climate-rural-environment-scheme-acres/#overview-of-acres-tranche-2 .
315. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the action being taken to protect our environment against invasive species such as Japanese knotweed or other similarly invasive species; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56245/23]
View answerI refer to my reply to Dáil Question no. 327 on 28 November which sets out the position in this matter.
316. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will give clarity to Roscommon County Council on a query which they have whereby an applicant’s application (details supplied ) requires for safety three walls to be removed and rebuilt under council notice, with one remaining wall being left in place; to give direction to the council on this to allow for the croí cónaithe grant application being applicable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55897/23]
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 objective of the grant scheme is to bring existing properties back into use. While demolition and extension works can form part of an application for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, such works must be part of a refurbishment of an existing dwelling in keeping with the objectives of the scheme.
While the Department provides guidance on the scheme, it is the local authority who assesses and decides on individual applications.
