Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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326. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the total number of applications for the Croí Cónaithe towns refurbishment grant; the total number of approvals; the total number of drawdowns; and a further breakdown by local authority area with average grant levels per local authority area, in tabular form. [46204/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Pathway 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 under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund 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.

The grant is processed at local authority level with guidance and support provided by the Vacant Homes Unit in my Department.

The grant process involves the local authority receiving and reviewing applications to ensure that the grant conditions are met and the required documentation has been submitted and arranging for a qualified person to visit the property to check the refurbishment work being applied for and to assess the proposed cost.

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. Further data in relation to individual local authorities may be available from the local authorities themselves.