Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 102, 147 and 153 together.

Tackling vacancy is a key priority for this Government and a suite of measures has been introduced to address vacancy and increase the pace at which properties are brought back into use. Significant progress is being made in the following areas:

• The government launched the Town Centre First policy, a major new policy initiative that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres.
• A €150 million Urban Regeneration Development Fund is being made available for local authorities to acquire vacant or derelict properties and sites for re-use or sale.
• Full-time Vacant Homes Officers are now in place across 30 local authorities.
• Planning regulations that exempt certain vacant commercial premises from requiring planning permission to change of use for residential purposes have been extended.

The Vacant Homes Action Plan, which I launched in January, outlines all of the progress that has been made in addressing vacancy along with the actions that are being pursued to return as many vacant properties back into use as possible.

As part of the Plan, my Department launched a new CPO Activation Programme, which provides for a planned, proactive and systematic approach by local authorities to bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use, with targets set for each local authority. This Programme includes guidance and supports for local authorities to actively use their legislative powers to compulsorily acquire vacant and derelict properties, where engagement with owners has been unsuccessful.

The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is being expanded from 1 May to build on the success of the scheme to date and further increase the support being provided to bring vacant and derelict properties brought back into use. Details of the expansion are as follows:i. The inclusion of one property which will be made available for rent, by the owner, in addition to one grant for a property which will be a principal private residence of the applicant i.e. a maximum of two applications for a grant will be available;

ii. Changing the eligibility date, which is currently 1993 for the build date, to include vacant and derelict properties built up to and including 2007; and

iii. Increase of the current maximum grant rates from €30,000 to €50,000 for vacant properties and from €50,000 to €70,000 for derelict properties.From 1 May 2023, a grant of up to a maximum of €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent, including the conversion of a property which has not been used as residential heretofore, subject to appropriate planning permission being in place.

Where the refurbishment costs are expected to exceed the standard grant of up to €50,000, a maximum 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 already on the local authority’s Derelict Sites Register, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €70,000.

In order to be eligible, properties must be built up to and including 2007 and the property must be vacant for two years or more at the time of grant approval. As part of the scheme, properties considered for inclusion must be for residential occupation as a principal private residence or made available for rent. It is not currently available for commercial purposes.

Applications for grant funding may be made in respect of over the shop units. Applications may be made in respect of one unit which will be made available for rent, by the owner, in addition to one grant for a unit which will be the principal private residence of the applicant. The property owner may also apply for the Repair and Leasing scheme to bring additional units into residential use, as appropriate.

The Government is committed to publishing an islands policy in line with the Programme for Government and commitments made in Our Rural Future. Officials in my Department are currently engaging with colleagues in the Department of Rural and Community Development to discuss a range of actions in the context of the islands policy including further support to bring back into use vacant and derelict properties on our islands.