Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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286. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the average time from receipt of application to decision for the croí cónaithe towns scheme, by local authority, in tabular form. [50564/23]

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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287. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of applications received, number approved and number refused for the croí cónaithe towns scheme, by local authority, in tabular form. [50565/23]

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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297. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the total number of grant applications and the number issued, by county, under the vacant property refurbishment grant scheme through the croí cónaithe (towns) for 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50780/23]

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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318. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of applicants for the vacant property refurbishment grant; and the number of approvals for same. [51084/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 286, 287, 297 and 318 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 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.

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

The grant application process involves the local authority receiving and reviewing applications, including required supporting documentation and arranging for a qualified person to visit the property to check the works applied for and proposed cost. Once approved, a letter of approval, including the grant amount approved, issues to the applicant and the works can commence.

The average processing time for applications, from date of receipt of application to date of decision, is currently 11 weeks.

In light of the success of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant to date, and the number of applications received, last week the Government agreed to double the amount of homes assisted under the scheme – raising the target to 4,000 homes to be delivered by 2025.

Demand has been incredibly strong, with over 5,100 applications made to local authorities to date. Of these, over 2,400 have been approved. Payment is made by local authorities, when works are completed and verified (approximately 12 months).

My Department publishes data on applications for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant on its website on a quarterly basis, which can be accessed at the following link: Vacancy grant statistics

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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288. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government whether an engineer’s report is required for every application on vacancy grounds for the croí cónaithe towns scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50566/23]

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.

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.

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

One of the criteria to qualify for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is that the property must be vacant for 2 years or more. Only where the top up grant in relation to a derelict property is being applied for, is an independent report prepared by an appropriately qualified professional required to be submitted along with the application, confirming, to the satisfaction of the local authority, that the property is derelict.

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.