Over €9M paid out in Vacant Property Refurbishment Grants in Louth
Louth County Council has paid out over €9 million to date in Vacant Property Refurbishment Grants
€9,254,755 has been paid out by Louth County Council to date in Vacant Property Refurbishment Grants, according to figures released by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant provides funding to help refurbish a vacant or derelict home. To qualify for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, a number of criteria must be fulfilled, including that the property must have been vacant for at least two years immediately before the date the grant is applied for.
The figures show that 417 grant applications have been made to Louth County Council to date, with 317 applications approved, 22 applications rejected, and 165 Vacant Property Refurbishment Grants issued on completion of works, with a total value of €9,254,755.
The figures have also revealed that just one application has been made in Louth for the Vacant Above the Shop Grant to date, with no indication yet as to whether or not the application has been approved.The scheme was introduced in April of this year
Nationally, more than 6,300 homes have been brought back into active use through €348.6 million in Vacant Property Refurbishment Grants.
A total 14,377 applications for the grant have been approved since the scheme began in July 2022, with a total 6, 312 grant payments already issued on completion of works.
37 Vacant Above the Shop Grants, which were introduced in April were among the 1,157 grant applications received by local authorities between April and June.
Welcoming the figures, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD, said: “Six previously vacant properties are being brought back into active use every working day across Ireland. This is what I want to see. 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.”
He continued: “We have to bring homes that already exist back into use. They are there. They are usually near services and infrastructure, from paths to roads - all of which is being paid for every day by the taxpayer.
“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.
Minister Browne said he wanted to acknowledge the homeowners and local authorities, who are working together, using the grant and tackling vacancy and encourages anyone interested in the scheme to check the details or talk to the Vacancy Officer in their local authority.