Six Longford homeowners paid vacant property refurnishment grant during third quarter of year
Vacant property grant approvals
Six homeowners in county Longford were paid the vacant property refurbishment grant of up to €70,000 during the third quarter of this year while 28 homeowners had their applications approved.
The grant is paid out upon completion of all the works involved and as the scheme continues, more completions are coming on stream.
Nine applications were received in county Longford between July and September 2024 while seven applications were also rejected.
The rate of payments issued on completion of works during quarter three 2024 was three times higher than the number of payments issued during the previous 12-month period.
Just two county Longford homeowners were paid the grant between July 2023 and July 2024 -with one recipient in the third quarter of last year and one during quarter one 2024.
There were no vacant property refurbishment grants paid out in Longford in the second quarter of this year and quarter four 2023.
The number of approved applications has also increased steadily this year with 41 approved applications during the April-to-June period.
Since July last year eight vacant refurbishment grants have been paid out, 86 applications have been received, 82 applications have been approved, while 20 have been rejected.
Under the vacant property refurbishment grant, you can receive a payment of up to €70,000 to turn a vacant or derelict house or building into your permanent home or a rental property.
Nationally there were 6,700 approvals under the vacant and derelict property refurbishment grant scheme.
Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien said approximately €45 million has been paid out in relation to the refurbishment of more than 860 homes.
Nationally, in quarter three 2024, 336 grants were paid out, which compares to 226 in quarter two 2024 and 146 in quarter one 2024.
Overall, since the launch of the grant just over two years ago, there have been 10,097 applications, 6,713 approvals and 867 grants issued.
Minister O’Brien stated the figures show that the vacant property refurbishment grant has been an extremely popular and effective measure.
"It has already facilitated the return to use of hundreds of previously vacant or derelict homes which is not only more sustainable but has resulted in increased supply, and ultimately, provided much needed homes for people," he added.