Séamus McGrath (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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24. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the timeframe for the announcement of changes to the vacant property refurbishment grant, including the new proposals for the over the shop scheme. [65499/25]

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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62. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his Department would consider phased payments of the vacant property refurbishment grant so that those who cannot afford to pay upfront and go into debt can access funds as work is being carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65850/25]

Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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118. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if planning permission will be required to convert vacant spaces above shops into residential units under the new vacant property refurbishment grant plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65721/25]

Shay Brennan (Dublin Rathdown, Fianna Fail)
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133. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of grants which have been approved under the vacant property refurbishment grant since its launch; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65631/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 24, 62, 118, 133 and 547 together.

Tackling vacancy and dereliction is at the heart of the Government's housing plan Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030.

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 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, including the matter of staged payments, was undertaken in 2024. 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.

The new housing plan reinforces and expands the range of existing measures being implemented by Government to tackle the issue of vacancy and dereliction. The plan includes an action to provide additional support under the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant for the refurbishment and conversion of above the shop vacant floors for use as homes. In recognition of the works involved, it is proposed that a package of up to €140,000 will be made available. The Department is currently progressing work to introduce the expanded and extended “Above the Shop scheme”.

S.I. No. 75/2022 - Planning and Development Act (Exempted Development) Regulations 2022 provides an exemption from the requirement for planning permission for the conversion of certain types of vacant commercial property into residential use, up to a maximum of 9 residential units and subject to specified conditions. The Regulations, which were extended in 2022 under SI 75/2022 to include an exemption for the conversion of vacant pubs, have now been further extended to the end of 2028. Accordingly, any specific works proposed in a conversion project would need to be examined in the context of fulfilling the requirements of these Regulations, to determine if planning permission is required.

My Department publishes data on applications for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant on its website on a quarterly basis, which includes the number of applications, approvals and the total number and value of grants paid per local authority. This data also includes a breakdown of applications for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and the Derelict Property Top-up Grant for every quarter. The Q3 2025 grant statistics were published on 17 October 2025. This data can be accessed at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/collections/vacant-property-refurbishment-grant-statistics/#2025