Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 December 2025
599. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are any financial supports available to a person seeking to buy a large derelict building in a town and develop apartments, to provide a number of apartments as private rented accommodation in the town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72183/25]
View answerThe 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 two years or more at the time of application.
This grant may be used in combination with S.I. No. 75/2022 - Planning and Development Act (Exempted Development) Regulations 2022 which provides an exemption from the requirement for planning permission for the conversion of certain types of vacant commercial property into residential use, such as ‘living over the shop’ accommodation, up to a maximum of 9 residential units. The Regulations, which were first extended in 2022 under SI 75/2022 to include an exemption for the conversion of vacant pubs, have now been extended to the end of 2028. Up to the end of 2024, local authorities received 1,457 notifications from developers intending to avail of the exemptions. If acted on, this would result in 3,429 new homes across the Country.
