Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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55. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the up-to-date position on the review being carried out by his Department on the croí cónaithe/vacant property grant; for consideration to include derelict farm buildings under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35869/25]

Naoise Ó Muirí (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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67. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government how he plans to encourage the use of vacant space over commercial buildings for housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35867/25]

Tony McCormack (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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70. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the new national ‘over-the-shop’ grant scheme will be launched; to outline the eligibility and funding timelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35851/25]

Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
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99. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the croí cónaithe scheme can be retrospectively applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27551/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 55, 67, 70 and 99 together.

Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock.

The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant introduced in July 2022, 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. In order to qualify for the grant, the property must be vacant for 2 years or more at the time of application.

Under the conditions of the scheme a grant application must be approved by the local authority prior to works applied for commencing. The grant process involves the local authority receiving, reviewing and validating applications and arranging for a qualified person to visit the property. Grant funding is available for refurbishment works as detailed in the scheme outline and application and issued in respect of works approved.

Following confirmation of works being completed, the local authority will conduct a final property visit to review that the work has been completed in-line with grant application. Once the local authority is satisfied, the grant will be paid. Payment of the grant at the end of this process is to ensure that the applicant has carried out the works applied for, and approved, and to safeguard that the grant is related to the works which have been completed.

Vacant commercial or public use buildings, including above the shop vacant premises are currently eligible for the grant, where they will be used as a principal private residence or made available to rent, subject to meeting the other eligibility requirements of the scheme.

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.

Planning exemptions may also be available for the conversion of certain commercial properties into residential use. 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.

The Repair and Leasing Scheme also supports refurbishment of vacant commercial, public use and residential properties and is available for vacant above the shop premises, for use as social housing. This scheme 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 Programme for Government includes a number of commitments to tackle vacancy, including a commitment to expand the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant to create an ‘Above the Shop’ top-up grant. My Department is currently progressing work in this area.

A review of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was undertaken in 2024. That review has been completed and is under consideration.