I propose to take Questions Nos. 391, 409, 418 and 423 together.
Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock.
The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant supports bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use. 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.
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 Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is available to properties which have been vacant for 2 years.
The scheme is administered and managed by local authorities who assess all applications in line with the scheme qualifying criteria. The Vacant Homes Unit in my Department offers ongoing support and guidance to local authorities in the administration of the scheme.
I have no function in respect of individual cases. I note that applicants generally can avail of other Government supported grant schemes in addition to the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant such as the SEAI grants. In cases where an applicant has applied for another grant this must be declared on their application for the vacant property refurbishment grant. As part of the due diligence process and in advance of payments issuing the local authority must satisfy themselves that works submitted on the application for the vacant property refurbishment grant have not been included and or approved under another grant scheme and it is not possible to include the same works under grant different schemes.
At the outset, the Croí Cónaithe Towns fund aimed to deliver 2,000 homes by 2025. This has since been increased to 4,000.
When the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund was launched, a commitment was given that the schemes funded by it would be kept under ongoing review. A comprehensive review and evaluation of the schemes under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund is underway and is expected to be completed by mid-2024.
My Department publishes data on applications for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant on its website on a quarterly basis, which includes breakdowns by local authority. See gov.ie - Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant statistics (www.gov.ie/en/collection/4bbe4-vacant-property-refurbishment-grant-statistics/)
