Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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688. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will establish a national phone line where applicants of the vacant home scheme seeking information and support with their application can call in view of the complexity of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48738/25]

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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689. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he is aware of the stress and difficulties, delays in local authorities paying for works carried out under the vacant homes scheme is causing for homeowners; the steps he and the Government will take to reduce these delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48739/25]

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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690. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he is aware of the stress and difficulties the current requirements to prove vacancy when seeking to avail of the vacant homes scheme is causing for homeowners; the steps he and the Government are taking to address this and ensure works can begin on the relevant properties in a timely manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48740/25]

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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691. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the circumstances under which a section five requirement can be waived in relation to applications for the vacant homes scheme; if he will reconsider or expand these circumstances in view of the current housing crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48741/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 688, 689, 690 and 691 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.

The grant is administered by the 31 local authorities. My Department provides funding of €60,000 per annum to support a full-time dedicated Vacant Homes Officer (VHO) role in each local authority. The provision of central funding reinforces the capacity of local authorities, including through the important role of VHOs, to ensure a dedicated focus on tackling vacancy and dereliction. In addition, my Department has provided funding of €180,000 to support each local authority in their administration of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant Scheme.

VHOs across local authorities are supported in their work by the Vacant Homes Unit in my Department, which provides information and support and facilitates dissemination of information and best practice, including through the VHO Network. Support, advice and guidance is also provided to local authorities by the Property Optimisation Unit in the Housing Agency who have also established a legal and surveyor contract framework that local authorities can avail of to support timely decisions on grant applications and the issuing of payments to applicants. The Housing Agency also operated a public phone line in relation to the grant, however this line was closed in March 2024 due to the low volume of calls being received.

Comprehensive information on the Grant is available on the Department's website, at the link provided here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/services/vacant-property-refurbishment-grant/, including property eligibility requirements, evidence and documentation needed to support a grant application, scheme outline, Frequently Asked Questions and the application form, with information also displayed on the local authorities websites. Information is also available from the Vacant Homes Officer in each local authority to prospective applicants, with their details being available on my Department's website. The link provided here gives the contact details for the VHO's in each local authority: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/vacant-homes-officer-contacts/.

Local authorities administer the the Grant, processing and deciding on applications and making Grant payments on completions of approved works. Applicants are not required to submit a Section 5 declaration of exempted development as part of the Grant scheme conditions. However, depending on the nature of the works and development proposed a local authority in assessing a grant application may seek a Section 5 declaration of exempted development, in cases where they need to satisfy themselves that the proposed development and works being undertaken do not require a formal planning permission.