Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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223. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the proof that is required under the Croí Cónaithe towns fund to show that a property is the applicant's principle primary residence. [3817/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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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.

In July 2022, the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was launched 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, which was initially launched in respect of vacant properties in towns and villages, was expanded to include eligible vacant properties in both cities and rural areas from 15 November 2022.

On 21 September 2022, the Ready to Build Scheme was launched, also funded under the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund. Under this 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.

Proof of ownership is required to support the grant application as part of assessing eligibility for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant. A local authority may give approval in principle to a grant application where the applicant is able to provide evidence of active negotiations to purchase a property. Examples of proof that may be submitted to prove ownership include:

- a title deed or similar legal instrument proving ownership of the property,

- evidence of current paid buildings insurance policy,

- evidence of payment of Local Property Tax or;

- a mortgage statement dated within the last 12 months.

As part of the conditions associated with the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, there is a requirement that the applicant(s) will live in the qualifying property as their principal private residence for a period of at least five years from the date of payment of the Grant. If at any time they sell the property or it ceases to be their principal private residence within ten years, they must reimburse the local authority an element of the full value of the Grant, as follows:

- Up to 5 Years – 100% of the monetary amount of the Grant

- Over 5 Years and less than or equal to 10 years – 75% of the monetary amount of the Grant

- Over 10 Years – No Clawback

An agreement must be concluded between the local authority and the applicant which contains the clawback agreement, including a charge on the property, which shall be binding on the applicant upon drawdown of the grant.

Individuals with interest in schemes under the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund can contact the dedicated Vacant Homes Officer in their local authority who will be able to provide information and advice concerning the application process.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Under Pathway 4 of Housing for All a blueprint is set out 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 details are available on the following link: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/969fb-vacant-property-refurbishment-grant-expanded-to-cities-and-remote-rural-areas/

A grant of up to a maximum of €30,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence, including the conversion of a property which has not previously been used as residential. Where the refurbishment costs are expected to exceed the standard grant of up to €30,000, a maximum top-up grant amount of up to €20,000 is available where the property is confirmed to be derelict, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €50,000.

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.

Under the Housing for All strategy, the Government has introduced a multi-faceted approach to step up housing supply and put affordability at the heart of the housing system. This includes a number of affordability measures which have been introduced for First Time Buyers and targeted to increase new build stock. This includes the First Home Scheme, the local authority affordable purchase scheme and the Local Authority Home Loan.

Separately, a new form of long-term sustainable home rental has been introduced in the form of Cost Rental tenancies. It is targeted at households with incomes above the social housing limits, but who cannot afford to purchase or rent their own home on the open market. Cost Rental provides tenants with secure tenancies in sustainable, long-term homes. Under the Cost Rental model, rents for homes are set to cover only the cost of financing, building, managing and maintaining the homes. Importantly, one of the conditions of this scheme is that households must have net income (i.e. the level of income after tax) of less than €53,000. Under the Housing for All targets, the delivery of Cost Rental homes will be scaled up and implemented in areas with a high affordability constraint as soon as practicable.

Lastly, it is important to note that amendments in respect of eligibility for social housing supports were made in December 2022 which increased baseline income thresholds. This saw the threshold in Limerick increase by €5,000 to €35,000 per annum net. These baseline figures would be adjusted to reflect the number of children in each household. Under the social housing ‘Household Means Policy’, certain incomes are not assessable including a number of social welfare payments such as Disablement Benefit/Pension. Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended.

Decisions on the qualification of specific persons for social housing support, the most appropriate form of any such support, and the allocation of that support should be progressed through the local authority concerned.