Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 61 , 70 , 82 , 89 and 190 together.

I thank the Deputy. Tackling vacancy is a key priority for this Government and pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make effective use of our existing housing stock. The Vacant Homes Action Plan 2023-2026, which was published in January 2023, builds on pathway 4 of Housing for All. It sets out the various actions that were to be pursued to return vacant properties back into use as homes.

I recently published an update on the action plan a year on, which shows the significant progress that has been made and this is available on my Department's website. The action plan outlines the various measures of vacancy, including census data and GeoDirectory vacancy data. While varying levels of vacancy are indicated in the different data sources, the overall trend across all the measures is downwards and vacancy levels are reducing.

The vacant property refurbishment grant introduced in July 2022 under the Croí Cónaithe towns fund is a key measure in returning vacant and derelict properties into use. A grant of up to €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties into a home or rental property with a top-up grant of €20,000 available for derelict properties. The grant is making a real impact in addressing vacancy and is making the purchase and refurbishment of these properties a more affordable option for those seeking to purchase their own home. More than 8,000 grant applications have been received to date with over 4,900 approved. Draw down of grants commenced at the end of 2023 as works started to be completed and this has steadily increased with 364 grants now paid. I expect this to significantly increase over 2024 as more refurbishment works are completed. My Department publishes data on applications for the grants on its website on a quarterly basis, which includes breakdowns by local authority.

I will arrange for the relevant web link to be circulated with the official record.

On Deputy Stanton's constituency, we have 151 approvals for Cork city and 404 for Cork county. An impressive 860 applications have now been received in total from the people of Cork.

When the Croí Cónaithe towns fund was launched, a commitment was made to undertake a comprehensive review of the schemes under it, including the vacant property refurbishment grant scheme, by mid-2024. That review is ongoing and will include an analysis of the application and grant draw-down process. I understand it is on track to be completed by mid-2024, and I expect to be able to make recommendations to the Government in due course with regard to the continuation of the grant and any changes merited.

Another key vacancy measure for local authorities is the CPO activation programme, which provides for a proactive approach by local authorities to identifying vacant properties and engaging with the property owners to return them to residential use. This may include the use of compulsory purchase powers where necessary.

Tackling vacancy under that programme is also supported through the €150 million urban regeneration and development fund, URDF. The fund supports local authorities in acquiring vacant or derelict properties for reuse and sale, using compulsory purchase powers where necessary. This is having a genuine impact, with 1,224 vacant and derelict properties in URDF areas identified and approved under the scheme. We had a great announcement on the scheme this week. The estimated yield from the properties is 5,406 homes. The fund will be replenished from the proceeds received from the sale or reuse of a site, allowing the local authority to establish a rolling programme to tackle vacancy.

I welcome the publication of the Dublin Simon Community report on over-the-shop-type spaces as it brings further attention to this important topic. In April, my Department published a revised edition of the manual Bringing Back Homes, which provides guidance on the refurbishment of many property types, including over-the-shop-type spaces. In addition, planning regulations that exempt owners of certain vacant commercial premises, including over-the-shop-type spaces, from acquiring planning permission to change those premises to residential status have been extended until 2025.

The most efficient home to deliver is one that already exists. The commitment the Government has made to addressing vacancy and dereliction and the actions we have taken will continue to play a vital role in revitalising local communities.

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