Following public outcry over the huge numbers of houses and other buildings around the country lying vacant and falling into dereliction during a housing crisis, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien T.D., and Taoiseach Micheál Martin, have today launched a new €50m Fund to help bring vacant and underused buildings back into residential use.
As is the case across the country, many areas of towns and villages in county Louth face the blight of vacant properties, which, if brought back into use, could add real vibrancy to communities. The question is will €50m be enough?
The Scheme, it’s called The Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund, is set to benefit those who wish to turn a formerly vacant house or building into their principal private residence and become part of the community in the area.
It will be delivered through local authorities who will provide a grant to support the refurbishment of vacant properties, with priority given to applications in areas where the level of vacancy or dereliction is high.
A grant of up to €30,000 will be available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence, including the conversion of a property which has not been used as a home before now.
Where a property is derelict, a maximum top-up grant amount of up to €20,000 will be available, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €50,000. This can also be combined with the SEAI Better Energy Home Scheme that covers works of up to €26,750.
Announcing the new initiative, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said:
“We know there is a great appetite across the towns and villages of Louth to bring vacant properties back into use for home ownership and this scheme will provide the ability to turn many of those opportunities into reality. This initiative is among the suite of measures in Housing for All which are designed to ensure that everyone has access to good quality housing as well as seeking to strengthen and diversify rural towns and villages to be a focus for local housing and employment growth.”
Minister Darragh O’Brien TD added:
Today, this scheme becomes our latest addition to boosting home ownership by supporting people to refurbish vacant properties to become their homes, enabling them to live in towns and villages and addressing vacancy through sustainable reuse. At the same we are adding to the vibrancy of towns and villages across the country and supporting local communities. I also intend extending the scheme further into city areas with high vacancy or dereliction in the coming months”
Local Deputy Fergus O’Dowd said this new fund will be crucial to bringing vacant and underused buildings in towns and villages in the North East back into residential use.
“We have areas experiencing quite serious vacancy and dereliction in parts of Louth and East Meath and we want to breathe new life into these communities and ensure they are better places in which to live, to work and to raise families.
“The Scheme is set to benefit those who wish to turn a formerly vacant house or building into their principal private residence and become part of the community in the area.
“The Fund will be delivered through both Louth and Meath County Councils who will provide a grant to support the refurbishment of vacant properties, with priority given to applications in areas where the level of vacancy or dereliction is high.
