Almost €350 million in vacancy grants issued since 2022
More than 6,300 homes have been brought back into use through €348.6 million in Vacant Property Refurbishment Grants (VPRGs) since the scheme started in 2022.
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne confirmed the figures today (July 17).
A total of 14,377 applications for the grant have been approved since the scheme began in July 2022.
Of those, 6,312 grant payments have been issued on completion of works.
This means, on average, six previously vacant properties are being brought back into active use every working day across Ireland under the scheme.
In the second quarter of this year, grants worth €52.6 million were issued on completion of works, bringing 923 vacant homes back into use.
County by county
Donegal Co. Council has issued the greatest number of grants to date, valued at €30.9 million, bringing 542 properties back into use.
According to the figures, 1,638 applications for the grant have been made in Donegal, with 1,233 approved applications to date.
Donegal was closely followed by Cork, which saw 1,634 applications received, 1,317 approved, and €25.5 million in grants paid out.
Third-highest was Mayo, which had 800 approvals and €13 million paid out.
While Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Co. Council had higher overall payments than some non-Dublin councils, it had fewer approvals.
‘Impact’
Announcing the figures, Minister Browne said: “I do not accept properties being left needlessly idle in a housing crisis.
“The numbers being brought back into use demonstrates the real impact that targeted investment can have in bringing much needed homes back into use.
“Since I became minister I have lasered in on the levels of vacancy and dereliction in this country and not just in our cities either.”
He added that homes that already exist are usually already close to services and infrastructure, which is being paid for by the taxpayer.
The minister added: “This Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is proving to be a highly effective measure.
"It gives people support to refurbish properties that might otherwise have remained empty. I want to encourage this.
“To be honest, we need the regeneration of towns and communities across the country and at the heart of that is having people living in them.”
Minister Browne said he wanted to acknowledge the homeowners and local authorities, who are working together by using the grant and tackling vacancy.
He also said that he encourages anyone interested in the scheme to check the details online or to talk to the vacancy officer in their local authority.
