Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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115. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the up-to-date position regarding the success of the Croí Cónaithe scheme; if he will provide a breakdown of applications received, applications approved, and the monies paid out to applicants, per local authority; the number of applicants in receipt of monies, per local authority; the breakdown of rental versus primary residence, per local authority, in respect of all applications and approvals; the estimated budget for the scheme for the foreseeable future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48522/23]

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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143. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government how many properties in Cork city and Cork county have availed of the vacant property refurbishment grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48939/23]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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149. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the amount of money paid out under the vacant property refurbishment grant since it was established; and if he will provide details in relation to the qualification criteria for the grant. [48725/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 115, 129, 143 and 149 together.

In July 2022 my Department launched the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund, which supports bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use.

On the 1st May 2023, I announced a revised grant rate of up to a maximum of €50,000 available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and also for properties which will be made available for rent, including the conversion of a property which has not previously been used as residential, all subject to the appropriate planning permission being in place.

Where the refurbishment costs are expected to exceed the standard grant of up to €50,000, a further maximum top-up grant 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, this brings the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €70,000.

To qualify for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant -

• The property must have been vacant for 2 years or more and have been built up to and including 2007.
• The applicant must own the property or be in the process of buying it.
• The applicant must live in the property as their principal private residence when the work is completed, or make it available for rent. If the applicant is going to rent the property when the work is completed, they must register the tenancy with the Residential Tenancies Board.
• The applicant must have tax clearance from Revenue and their tax affairs must be in order.
• The applicant must have paid their Local Property Tax, if applicable.
• The applicant cannot be a registered company or developer.