Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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292. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will ensure that successful applications under the croí cónaithe scheme are categorised by each local authority (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59469/22]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. Many areas of cities, towns and villages of all sizes face the blight of vacant properties, which, if brought back into use, could add real vibrancy and provide new accommodation in those areas. The Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund is a key initiative which underpins these policy objectives set out in Pathway Four of Housing for All.

Schemes under the Fund, which are delivered by local authorities, provide new choices for people to live in towns and villages in Ireland, through the provision of a grant to support the refurbishment of vacant properties and by providing serviced sites in towns and villages to people in order to build their own homes.

In July, I launched the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant as part of the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund. The grant benefits those who wish to turn a formerly vacant house or building into their principal private residence. The grant was initially launched in respect of vacant properties in towns and villages but I am pleased to say that as of the 15 November, the expanded grant also includes eligible vacant properties in both cities and rural areas (in addition to those in towns and villages, which have been eligible since July). Further information is available on the following link: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/969fb-vacant-property-refurbishment-grant-expanded-to-cities-and-remote-rural-areas/

In September, I launched the Ready to Build Scheme, also funded by the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund. Under the Ready to Build Scheme, local authorities will make serviced sites in towns and villages available to potential individual purchasers to build their homes. These sites will be available at a discount on the market value of the site for the building of a property for occupation as the principal private residence of the purchaser.

In order to facilitate the collection of data on the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, an app, designed by my Department, has been provided to all local authorities. This will support the collation of data by each local authority to report on different aspects of the grant including:

- The number of applications received;

- The type of grant that was applied for - either the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant of up to €30,000 or if the property is deemed derelict then the Derelict Top-Up Grant of up to an additional €20,000 (a maximum of €50,000 in total);

- The status of the application - approved, rejected, being processed;

- If the property is on the Derelict Sites Register and;

- If the property is within an Architectural Conservational Area (ACA).

Data is and will continue to be gathered on the operation of the initiative. While interim reviews will be ongoing, a comprehensive review and evaluation of the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund will be undertaken no later than mid-2024.