Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 October 2025
67. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the manner in which his Department will assist local authorities in further promoting the croí cónaithe scheme and the vacant property refurbishment grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53571/25]
View answerAddressing vacancy and making efficient use of existing housing stock is a key priority for Government.
The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, introduced in July 2022 under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund, supports bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use as homes. A grant of up to €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. A top-up grant amount 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.
The level of interest in and take-up of the Grant has been significant since it was launched. To the end of June 2025, over 13,700 grant applications have been received across the country, almost 10,000 have been approved and over 2,800 grants have been paid, amounting to over €155 million.
My Department publishes data on the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant on its website on a quarterly basis, which includes a breakdown of the grants paid per local authority and the total amount of grants paid. This data can be accessed at the following link: Vacancy grant statistics: 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
My Department provides annual funding of €60,000 to support the work of a Vacant Homes Office including a Vacant Homes Officer (VHO). This supports the commitment to ensure that VHOs are full-time. The provision of central funding reinforces the capacity of local authorities, including through the important role of VHOs, to ensure a dedicated focus on tackling vacancy and dereliction with a view to increasing the opportunities for residential development.
All 31 local authorities now have a full time, dedicated VHO in place.
The role of the VHO in each local authority is:
• To actively promote and lead the uptake within the local authority of various initiatives, schemes and funding programmes to address vacancy and bring vacant properties into residential use;
• To actively engage with owners of vacant properties and other relevant stakeholders and promote use of relevant schemes and supports to bring vacant properties into use;
• To collect, monitor and assess vacancy data locally and use that data to actively engage with property owners and promote schemes to encourage activation of properties; and
• Play a communication, promotion and advisory role both internally within the local authority and externally as a contact point for members of the public and key interested parties on vacant homes/properties.
VHOs across local authorities are supported in their work by the Vacant Homes Unit in my Department, which provides information and facilitates dissemination of information and best practice, including through the VHO Network.
