Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

567. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he has considered any assistance for those qualifying for the croí cónaithe grant who cannot manage the upfront building costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44404/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is a key support, introduced by this Government, to bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use as homes.

A grant of up to €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. A top-up grant of up to €20,000 is available where the property is derelict, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to €70,000. The Grant is available in respect of vacant and derelict properties built prior to 2008, in towns, villages, cities and rural areas.

The grant process involves the local authority receiving and reviewing applications to ensure that the grant conditions are met and arranging for a qualified person to visit the property to check the refurbishment work being applied for and to assess the proposed cost. Following confirmation of a successful application and the works being completed, the local authority will conduct a final property visit to review that the work has been completed in-line with the grant application. Once the local authority is satisfied, they will then pay the grant. Payment of the grant at the end of the process is to ensure that the applicant has carried out the works applied for and for which the grant is being paid.

On the 5th June the Government approved a Local Authority Purchase and Renovation Loan (LAPR), which is expansion of the Local Authority Home Loan, to support the purchase and renovation of homes which are eligible for the existing Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant.

From July, under the new LAPR, a first-time buyer or Fresh Start applicant who wishes to purchase and/or renovate a Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant eligible home but who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial lenders are able to apply to their local authority for a loan under the LAPR scheme. While the LAPR has some additional conditions compared to the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, it has the potential to help first time buyers and fresh start applicants who are struggling to complete the purchase and renovation of a vacant or derelict property by providing an avenue to secure the necessary finance to make their project viable.

This reinforces the Government’s commitment to bring vacant and derelict homes back into use, a key objective of Housing for All, while also providing another funding pathway for individuals to realise their goal of homeownership.

When the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund was launched, a commitment was given that a comprehensive review of the schemes under it, including the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, would be undertaken by mid 2024. The review has now been completed and I am now considering its contents.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

568. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government