Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 7, 14, 36, 41 and 45 together. I acknowledge the Deputy's input on this. We have discussed it. This scheme can be vitally important in breathing life back into our towns, villages and rural areas. I will explain where we are at the moment.

As Deputy Naughten will know, pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. All of us want to do that and we should do so. Many areas in our cities, towns and villages of all sizes face the blight of vacant properties. On 14 July this year, I launched the vacant property refurbishment grant as part of the Croí Cónaithe towns fund. That grant will benefit those who wish to turn a formerly vacant property, house or building into their principal private residence. There grant is worth up to €30,000 and is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation, as I have said. This includes the conversion of a property which was not previously residential. I have also made a change to planning exemptions to allow conversion from commercial to residential use without planning permission. Where the refurbishment costs are expected to exceed the grant of €30,000, there is a further grant available if the local authority designates the home as derelict. This comes to a total of €50,000 comprising €30,000 where the property is vacant and €20,000 where it is derelict.

On 21 September, I launched the ready-to-build scheme, which is the equivalent of the serviced sites fund for our towns and villages. There has been a great response to that. When I launched the original Croí Cónaithe fund for our towns and villages, I committed to an ongoing review of the schemes under it. I am now expanding the scheme. Guidance has issued. In fairness, we only launched it on 14 July. In the first four weeks, there have been 169 applications to the scheme with most local authorities making applications. There is incredible interest in it and I believe it will work very well because it is simple. It has been broadly welcomed. We are retaining it in the budget. Others who are sitting not too far away from Deputy Naughten would get rid of it. That is something they can explain. This is a simple grant that will help homeowners. I have now extended it to rural areas. That will take effect from November. I have also extended it to urban towns like Drumcondra or Ballincollig. It is open right across the Twenty-six Counties and has already had a very good start. I thank the Deputy for his input on the scheme.

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