Dáil debates
Thursday, 20 June 2024
Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions
Vacant Properties
10:50 am
Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source
I thank the Minister for her reply. I reiterate that this could work better and be even more effective than it currently is if there was a co-ordinated approach, such as ensuring businesses stay in place and thrive and that they are supported to a greater extent. To that end, I hope the Government will take on board the need to cut the VAT rate to 9% to keep some of those businesses in place in our streets where they are needed in our villages and rural towns.
We have the same issue with dereliction, as the Minister pointed out, with empty houses. I accept there is a multitude of reasons they remain empty. I understand that currently only six properties in County Offaly have received funding under the vacant property refurbishment grant initiative. We also know from the Irish Independent that only 127 property refurbishment grants have been drawn down by homeowners since the scheme came into effect. That is approximately one in 50 of the 6,300 applications that have been made so far, with just over half, or 3,274, approved since the scheme was launched in July 2022.
This certainly demonstrates the scale of the problem. If there is a low uptake in a scheme then the scheme obviously needs to be looked at, reviewed, tweaked and improved. I hope that will happen with the derelict housing and that certainly could reduce the numbers of derelict houses in our towns and villages.
I want to see my own county of Offaly thrive and for no houses to be left vacant or derelict, particularly in the middle of a housing crisis. We could look at measures and co-ordination is key.
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