Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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594. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if consideration will be given to introducing phased payments of the grant following on from the review of vacant property refurbishment grant carried out in 2024, to assist applicants with cash flow in managing such projects particularly with massive increased costs in construction (details supplied). [52137/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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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 maximum grant amounts were increased in May 2023 from €30,000 and €50,000 to take account of rising costs.

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. This is also the case for grants such as the SEAI grants and Housing Adaptation Grants, which are paid when works are completed.

A review of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was undertaken in 2024, which included the matter of staged payments. That review has been completed and is under consideration.

Under the Local Authority Purchase and Renovation Loan, launched in July 2024, a first-time buyer who wishes to purchase and/or renovate a Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant eligible home but who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial lenders is now able to apply to their local authority for a loan under the scheme. The Local Authority Purchase and Renovation Loan has the potential to help first time buyers and fresh start applicants to complete the purchase and renovation of a vacant or derelict property and provides an avenue to secure the necessary finance to make the project viable.