Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will take this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minster of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, who apologises that he cannot be here. I thank the Senator for being a champion and advocate of housing policy and for being one of the key drivers in revitalisation of many vacant properties. To be fair to the Senator, she has been ahead of the curve in many ways. I commend her on that, during our time together in this House and now in different roles. Addressing the vacancy and dereliction issue and bringing existing properties back into use as homes form a key priority for this Government and the Minister. I completely agree with the Senator that this grant is about new life, reimagining and revitalisation. The Senator and I could walk many parts of this city and of Cork, or wherever, and it is something we need to see more of. I agree with the Senator completely.

Since the vacant property refurbishment grant was announced in 2022, it has provided support of up to €50,000 for the refurbishment of vacant properties and a further €20,000 for derelict properties. I concur with the Senator completely that there is a need to go further and I hope we can do that. Feedback on the grant has been very positive and the grant is making a real difference in urban and rural areas. Last month the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage published grant statistics that show more than 11,300 grant applications were received, in excess of 7,700 were approved and 1,449 grants were paid to 31 December of last year. Currently, the grant is paid on completion of the approved works to ensure the applicant has carried out the works applied for. This is also the approach in other grants such as the SEAI and housing adaptation grants. It is important to note also that staged payments would result in additional inspections by local authorities with a resulting impact on timeframes for grant payments.

Under the new local authority purchase and renovation loan launched last July, a first-time buyer or fresh start applicant who wishes to purchase or renovate a home eligible for the vacant property refurbishment grant but who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial lenders can apply to their local authority for a loan under the scheme. The loan has the potential to help eligible applicants by providing the necessary finance to make their project viable.

Recognising the need to bring as many vacant properties into use as homes, particularly in our towns and cities, the programme for Government includes a commitment to expand the vacant property refurbishment grant to include an above-the-shop top-up grant. The grant is currently available to support the refurbishment of vacant upper floors of commercial premises. So too is the repair and leasing scheme, providing up to €80,000 per unit, with no limit on the number of units in one property, for use as social housing. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is working to progress the commitment to introduce a top-up grant for such properties, how it will operate and who it will be available to. The Minister, Deputy Browne, will update Senators in the coming weeks and months on this matter.

I will be happy to bring back to the Minister the issues raised by the Senator. I share her views. I have a similar view regarding the payment in stages. I understand the knock-on effects of that. The Senator is right that we need to make it easier for and to incentivise more people who want to convert vacant properties, in particular those two or three floors over a shop. I am not sure if the Senator is familiar with the situation in Cork, but when I look up St. Patrick's Street and see some of the vacant properties, I ask why people cannot be incentivised more.

I again commend the Senator on what she has been doing and for the role she played. At a time when some people are critical of Government policy the Senator, has been the opposite. She has been a breath of fresh air in coming up with ideas and in pushing and cajoling members of both political parties in the area housing. I will bring back the Senator's views on croí cónaithe. I am sure the Minister, Deputy Browne, the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, and the other Ministers of State in the Department, including the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, will work with the Senator on this matter. The Senator is right. It is about breathing new life into and creating a new imagined space in our towns and cities. I will bring back the Senator's remarks and I share her views on this scheme. I apologise if the reply is not what she needs or got but I will certainly take her views back.