Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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505. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans for an ‘above the shop’ living refurbishment grant by topping up the vacant and derelict refurbishment grant so as to help make spaces above retail premises liveable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37171/25]

James Browne (Wexford, 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.

The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, introduced in July 2022 under the Croí Cónaithe, 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.

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

More information on the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant can be found on my Department's website here- www.gov.ie/en/service/f8f1b-vacant-property-refurbishment-grant/

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 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 which provides support for the refurbishment of vacant properties to be used for 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 new Programme for Government includes a range of commitments to tackle vacancy, including a commitment to create an ‘Above the Shop’ living refurbishment grant by topping up the vacant and derelict refurbishment grant. My Department is currently progressing work on this.