Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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395. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will consider amending the qualifying rules for the local authority home loan scheme so that individuals and families (details supplied) who have been forced to sell their homes due to inability to pay a large mortgage or downsizing due to changing family needs can also avail of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52953/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government-backed mortgage for those who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build.

A ‘Fresh Start’ principle applies for applications to the Local Authority Home Loan.

The following categories of persons are eligible to apply for the Local Authority Home Loan under the Fresh Start principle:

- Applicant(s) who previously purchased or built a dwelling, together with a spouse, a civil partner or a person with whom he or she was in an intimate and committed relationship are eligible under the Fresh Start principle where this relationship has ended, and they have divested themselves of their interest in the previous property.

- Applicant(s) that previously purchased or built a residential property, but has been divested of this through insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings, are eligible to apply. However a separate assessment of creditworthiness will be conducted by the underwriters. This applies when the applicant has exited the insolvency/bankruptcy proceedings.

The Local Authority Home Loan scheme is kept under constant review. However, there are no plans at present to expand the Fresh Start definition, as set out in the Affordable Housing Act 2021.

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 I launched the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant which supports 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.

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.

In order to be eligible, 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. Information on the scheme and application process is available from Vacant Homes Officers in each local authority.

Further support available is the Conservation Advice Grant Scheme for Vacant Traditional Farmhouses which is primarily a built heritage scheme, intended to support the conservation of an important and historically neglected part of our traditional building stock. I am pleased to note that it may also make a contribution to our broader efforts to tackle vacancy and dereliction.

Owners of derelict and/or vacant traditional farmhouses often undertake renovation works without professional advice, and may carry out unnecessary demolition or use materials that damage the historic fabric of the building. In general this results in a loss of historic character and, in some cases, further expenditure for the owner. It is hoped that these outcomes can be avoided through the timely provision of expert advice.

I would emphasise that this is a pilot scheme intended to trial the provision of conservation grants for vacant traditional farmhouses. My Department is currently looking into options for extending the scheme beyond vernacular farmhouses, to cover a wider range of historic buildings in both urban and rural areas, subject to appropriate sanction and to the estimates process.

In the meantime, I would call attention to the Built Heritage Investment Scheme and the Historic Structures Fund, grant programmes offered by my Department which fund conservation works in a wide range of historic buildings. The Historic Structures fund in particular has a vernacular stream which is open to unprotected vernacular buildings.

€9m was allocated to these schemes for 2024, with the application window currently open until January 2024. All applications are made through the relevant local authority. It is advised to contact the conservation or heritage officer in the relevant local authority for details of closing dates, as these differ from local authority.