Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 July 2026
438. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide the date on which the vacant above the shop grant scheme became operational; the date on which applications first opened; the date on which the first application was received; the date on which the first application was approved; and the date on which the first grant payment was made, in tabular form and by local authority. [50962/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra439. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide the number of applications received under the vacant above the shop grant scheme; the number approved; the number refused; the number deemed invalid or withdrawn; the number currently awaiting decision; the number of applications awaiting decision for less than one month, one to three months, three to six months and more than six months and by local authority, in tabular form. [50963/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra440. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide the amount of funding allocated under the vacant above the shop grant scheme in 2026; the amount committed; the amount drawn down or paid to date; the remaining balance available; and whether funding is allocated in advance to local authorities or drawn down on foot of approved applications, and by local authority, in tabular form. [50964/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra441. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total Exchequer funding provided for the vacant above the shop grant scheme in 2026; the total amount committed and paid to date; whether the scheme is a new standalone scheme or a continuation or expansion of an existing scheme; and the annual Exchequer funding provided for a predecessor scheme in each year from 2021 to 2025 inclusive. [50965/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra442. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether every local authority is fully operational in administering the vacant above the shop grant scheme; if not, to identify the local authorities that are not yet fully operational; the reasons therefor, whether a local authority has reported staffing, administrative or operational difficulties to his Department; and the measures being taken to address any such issues. [50966/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra443. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide the average processing time for applications under the vacant above the shop grant scheme; the number and value of grant payments made to date; the estimated number of residential units expected to be delivered through approved applications, by local authority, in tabular form. [50967/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 438, 439, 440, 441, 442 and 443 together.
The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, funded under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund, 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.
Under the Housing Plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, a commitment was given to provide additional support for the refurbishment and conversion of above the shop vacant space for use as homes. The Government approved the introduction of a Vacant Above the Shop Grant with a package of up to €140,000 to be made available in cases where vacant above the shop space is being converted/refurbished for residential use and the commercial element is remaining. The additional grant amount for these properties recognises the complexities involved in bringing this space into use. The package includes an Expert Advice Grant of up to €5,000. The new Vacant Above the Shop Grant and Expert Advice Grant, funded under the Croí Cónaithe Town Fund were launched and opened for applications in all local authorities on 1 April 2026. Application forms and information on the Grants available from each local authority and at the following link www.gov.ie/vacancy.
Applicants approved for the Above the Shop grant have a period of 18 months to complete works, therefore it is anticipated the first grant payments will issue in Q3/Q4 2027.
My Department publishes data on applications for the Grants on its website on a quarterly basis, which includes the number of applications, approvals and the total number and value of grants paid per local authority. This data includes a breakdown of applications for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and the Derelict Property Top-up Grant. Data on the Vacant Above the Shop Grant and the Expert Advice Grant will be available in the published data from Q2 2026 which will be published in July 2026. The Q1 2026 grant statistics were published on 24 April 2026. This data can be accessed at the following link: Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant statistics https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/collections/vacant-property-refurbishment-grant-statistics/#2025
A capital budget of €165 million has been provided for 2026 for the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund which funds the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and Vacant Above the Shop Grant. The budget for the fund for future years will be decided and allocated within the funding envelope awarded to the Department following the National Development Plan Review in 2025. The amount spent under the Fund since its introduction can be found from the Comptroller and Auditor Generals website under the Appropriation of Accounts, link here: Appropriation Accounts - Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General https://www.audit.gov.ie/en/publications/appropriation-accounts/.
All 31 local authorities have a full-time Vacant Homes Officer in place as a key point of contact in their Vacant Homes Office teams. My Department provides annual funding of €60,000 to each local authority to ensure a dedicated focus on tackling vacancy and dereliction. Vacant Homes Officers are supported in their role by the Vacant Homes Unit in my Department, the Housing Agency and through the Vacant Homes Officer Network.
My Department has also provided €180,000 to each local authority to support administration of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant. Technical and legal support is also available to support local authorities in administering the grant through the Housing Agency.
The Housing Plan committed to providing additional support to local authorities for the administration of the grant. In December 2025 the Government approved additional annual funding of up to €100,000 for local authorities in this regard. In June my Department contacted all local authorities advising them of the process to drawn down additional funding awarded for grant administration.
While my Department has a role in strategic workforce planning within the local government sector, Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible.
