Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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702. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when he intends to introduce the “above the shop” property refurbishment grant to address vacancy and dereliction in our towns and villages, as committed to under the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23370/25]

Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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764. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when he intends to increase the threshold for the vacant property refurbishment grant, in line with the commitment made under the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24038/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 702 and 764 together.

The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant introduced in July 2022, is a key measure to address vacancy and dereliction, supporting bringing properties back into use as homes. It provides a grant of up to €50,000 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 confirmed to be derelict, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €70,000.

The grant is currently available for the conversion of former commercial or public use buildings as well as "Above the Shop" type conversions.

In conjunction with the Vacant Property Refurbishment grant, other supports and grants may be used to bring these properties in towns and villages into use. The Conservation Advice Grant is designed to support owners of traditional buildings where the building is a protected structure or located in an architectural conservation area. Buildings previously used for commercial purposes qualify for the grant where the intended use is a single dwelling over the shop.

Other schemes such as the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and the Better Energy Homes Grant may be available in combination with the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant.

Planning regulations, introduced in 2018, which exempted certain vacant commercial premises, including ‘over the shop’ type spaces, from requiring planning permission to change to residential purposes were extended to the end of 2025. The scope of the exemption was also extended to include ‘public houses’. The exemptions support the reuse of vacant commercial buildings as homes, increasing housing supply and regenerating communities. From 2018 to the end of 2023, almost 1,200 notifications had been received from developers which could result in over 2,700 new homes being provided.

Funding is also available under the Repair and Leasing Scheme. This provides an interest free loan of up to €80,000, including VAT, for each individual unit completed in a formerly vacant property. For example, where a vacant former shop is converted into 4 apartments, a loan of up to €320,000 is available. The scheme is increasingly being used to convert vacant commercial properties into social housing units.

The new Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce an Above the Shop living refurbishment grant by topping up the vacant and derelict refurbishment grant. This will help make spaces above retail premises liveable. Work on this is currently being progressed.