Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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156. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will review the terms of the tenant purchase scheme to include individuals on carer's allowance (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15853/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme provides for the purchase by eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority homes available for sale under the scheme. To be eligible, applicants must meet certain criteria, including minimum annual reckonable income.

In determining a tenant’s minimum annual reckonable income, local authorities can include incomes from employment, private pensions, the contributory and non-contributory State pensions and certain social protection payments, where the social protection payment is secondary to income from employment or a pension. However, other social protection payments including Carer's Allowance, which are considered shorter term in nature, are not considered when determining an applicant's annual reckonable income.

That said, the scheme qualifying criteria, including minimum reckonable income requirements, are being examined as part of the work on the broader social housing reform agenda.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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157. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if, under the Croí Cónaithe towns fund scheme, he will consider including feasibility grants for the purposes of assessing the overall viability of the project, whereby such monies would ascertain the level of funding needed to inform the level of grant funding necessary to renovate a property for homeowner use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15855/23]

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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158. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if, under the Croí Cónaithe towns fund scheme, he will consider granting tranche payments to improve cashflow rather than at the end of the renovation as is currently the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15856/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 157 and 158 together.

Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. The Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund is a key initiative which underpins the 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.

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 top-up grant amount of up to €20,000 is available where the property is confirmed by the applicant to be derelict or if the property is on the Derelict Sites Register, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €50,000.

Properties considered for inclusion must be vacant for two years or more and built before 1993. Proof of both vacancy and ownership are required to support the grant payment.

The grant process involves the local authority receiving, reviewing and validating applications and arranging for a qualified person to visit the property. Grant funding is available for refurbishment works as detailed in the scheme outline and issued in respect of works approved in the application and verified during the technical site visit. Currently, it is not envisaged to include feasibility grants for the purposes of assessing the overall viability of the refurbishment works undertaken.

Following confirmation of works being completed, the local authority will conduct a final property visit to review that the work has been completed in-line with grant application. Once the local authority is satisfied, the grant will be paid.

The scheme has been kept under ongoing review since its launch and Government has decided to further expand the Grant eligibility to increase the number of vacant and derelict properties being brought back into use. This includes changing the eligibility date for properties to include properties built prior to 2007, and expanding the grant to include properties which are made available for rent and not solely for owner occupation. My Department is currently working on details of this expansion and I will make a further announcement on the changes to the scheme when this work has concluded.