Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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279. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will consider extending eligibility for the vacant property refurbishment grant to include the conversion of vacant or underutilised retail premises such as "above the shop" units into residential accommodation, given the potential to deliver up to 20,000 additional homes as highlighted in the recent Hardware Association of Ireland report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18333/25]

James Browne (Wexford, 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.

The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant introduced in July 2022, provides a grant of up to €50,000 for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent. A top-up grant of up to €20,000 is available where the property is confirmed to be derelict, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €70,000.

In order to qualify for the grant the property must be vacant for 2 years or more at the time of application. Further information and scheme eligibility can be found at the line provided here: www.gov.ie/en/service/f8f1b-vacant-property-refurbishment-grant/

The grant is currently available for the conversion of former commercial or public use buildings as well as "Above the Shop" type conversations, and the new Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce a "Living Above the Shop" top up grant which is currently being progressed.

In conjunction with the Vacant Property Refurbishment grant other supports and grants which may be available include the Conservation Advice Grant. The grant is designed to support owners of traditional buildings where the building is a protected structure or located in an architectural conservation area. Buildings previously used for commercial purposes qualify for the grant where the intended use is a single dwelling over the shop.

Other schemes such as the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and the Better Energy Home Scheme Grant may be available in combination with the Vacant Property Refurbishment grant.

Planning regulations, introduced in 2018, which exempted certain vacant commercial premises, including ‘over the shop’ type spaces, from requiring planning permission to change to residential purposes were extended to the end of 2025. The scope of the exemption was also extended to include ‘public houses’. The exemptions support the reuse of vacant commercial buildings as homes, increasing housing supply and regenerating communities. From 2018 to the end of 2023, almost 1,200 notifications had been received from developers which could result in over 2,700 new homes being provided.

Funding is also available under the Repair and Leasing Scheme. This provides an interest free loan of up to €80,000, including VAT, for each individual home completed in a formerly vacant property. For example, where a vacant former shop is converted into 4 homes, a loan of up to €320,000 is available. The scheme is increasingly being used to convert vacant commercial properties into social housing units.