Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)

We have to welcome anyone from Limerick, so I welcome our visitors.

I thank Senator Duffy for raising this important matter. Addressing vacancy and bringing existing properties back into use as homes is a key priority of the Government. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne.

A key initiative introduced in 2022 under the croí cónaithe towns fund is the vacant properties refurbishment grant, which provides support of up to €50,000 to refurbish vacant properties and a further €20,000 for derelict properties. Feedback on the grant has been positive. It is making a real difference. At the end of March 2025, more than 12,200 applications had been received by local authorities, more than 8,600 had been approved and 2,096 grants had been paid, totalling more than €112 million. Under the scheme, there can be a maximum of two grants per property, one for the property that will be the applicant's home and one for a property that will be made available for long-term rent. A comprehensive review of the scheme under the croí cónaithe towns fund was carried out in 2024 and findings and recommendations are being considered.

A number of other supports may be used by others to bring vacant and derelict properties into use. The Senator referenced the croí cónaithe towns fund being available nationwide. The repair and lease scheme supports refurbishment of vacant properties for use as social housing. This scheme provides an interest free loan to owners of up to €80,000 for each individual unit completed in a formerly vacant property. For example, where a vacant former shop is adapted to four apartments, a loan of up to €320,000 is available. Refurbishment grant homes are leased to the local authority and the property owner receives a regular income based on market rent, with the loan repaid as a reduction in the lease payment over an agreed term.The scheme is increasingly being used to convert vacant commercial properties into social housing units. Planning exemptions are also available for the conversion of certain commercial properties to residential use. Planning regulations introduced in 2018, which exempted certain vacant commercial premises, including over-the-shop-type spaces, from requiring planning permission to change to residential purposes, were extended to the end of 2025. The exemptions support the reuse of vacant commercial buildings as homes, increasing housing supply and regenerating communities.

The Senator raised the croí cónaithe cities scheme. He made reference to a number of issues in terms of expanding the scheme. These are matters I will bring back to the Minister, Deputy Browne, and the Department.