Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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502. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will extend the croí cónaithe grant timeframe from 13 to 18 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40007/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 502 and 527 together.

Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. In July 2022 the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was launched to support bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use.

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 been previously used for commercial and public use 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 where 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.

The grant is available in respect of vacant and derelict properties built up to and including 2007, in towns, villages, cities and rural areas.

A maximum of two grants are available to any applicant, of which one must be in respect of a home they intend to occupy as their principal private residence and the other may be in respect of a property which will be made available for rent.

In order to support the timely delivery of properties, from May 2023, once a grant application receives approval, applicants must complete works applied for within a period of 13 months. Currently payment of grants is issuing some 12 months from date of approval.

When the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund was launched, a commitment was given that the schemes funded by it would be kept under ongoing review. A comprehensive review and evaluation of the schemes under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund, including the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, will be undertaken by mid-2024.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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503. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to clarify who is responsible to pay the legal fees incurred by the local authority as part of the croí cónaithe grant scheme regarding the legal charge/clawback on the property receiving the grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40009/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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In July 2022 the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was launched to support bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use.

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 where 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.

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 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

In the event of a fall in the value of the property, the full monetary amount, subject to the percentage clawback above will be repayable to the local authority. 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. The cost of the registration of the charge is to be covered by the local authority who issues the grant payment. Support to local authorities for the administration of the grant is provided by my Department.