Latest news with #VacantPropertyRefurbishmentGrant
Irish Independent
08-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Assurances sought on plans to address Arklow dereliction and long-term vacancies
Addressing the chamber, Brennan welcomed nationwide investment made via the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, but questioned the disparity in investment between local authorities and called on vacant property owners to simply 'use it or lose it'. Describing dereliction as a scourge that is having 'a detrimental effect on the social fabric of our towns and villages', he cited Arklow as an example of a town where long-term vacancies and dereliction are 'a missed opportunity' during the housing crisis. 'Just take where I spent all my working life, in Arklow – 25 years there; a vibrant town, a port, main street buzzing,' Brennan remarked. 'If you go down that street today, it's a different story. Myself, my wife and my two kids walked down that street on the Saturday before Christmas. We were the only four people on the street – the Saturday before Christmas. It was absolutely frightening. 'But I do see green shoots in that town. I have to give credit to the existing owners of premises there that tried to keep the main street going, but we need the supports. 'We have got engagement from the local authority, from the shop owners, from the chamber, and it is key that we link all these people together and get them to drive the town on. 'There are huge green shoots for that town, but the problems in Arklow are being replicated right across Ireland.' Highlighting dereliction throughout the country, Brennan welcomed measures already in place but asked for greater supports and incentives alongside increased penalties for property owners who do not engage or cooperate with their local authority. 'The blight of dereliction and long-term vacancy is so prevalent throughout our country, and on the CSO figures for 2022, there are 163,000 derelict properties registered,' he said. 'Dereliction should be a source of national embarrassment. We pride ourselves as a hotbed of tourism, yet we are welcoming our tourists into towns that are falling down around themselves. 'Even more importantly, we are in the middle of a housing crisis and are fighting tooth and nail to build more houses, while there are tens of thousands of properties standing vacant and derelict on every street corner.' It's been a busy period for Brennan, who was recently appointed to the three key Oireachtas Committees – Foreign Affairs, Enterprise and Tourism and Arts, Sports and Media – which he said will involve work that will be 'of immense importance to the people of south Wicklow and north Wexford'. 'Foreign Affairs is viewed as a critically important committee in light of the current world instability, and my international experience in Sri Lanka will be invaluable in this regard,' he said. 'I have 30 years of experience in business, and the hotel industry will strongly inform my input to the Enterprise and Tourism Committee, which will cover many areas that are of vital importance to the country, particularly regarding current global tariffs and the potential fallout. 'Arts, Sports and Media is also of huge significance, and no doubt my involvement and interest with numerous clubs in this constituency have been taken into account. 'I am looking forward to commencing the work and to deciding on priority areas, so that we can embark on our work plan with focus and determination.'
Irish Independent
07-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
280 home owners approved for refurbishment grant in Wexford as minister tackles dereliction across county
The grant is also available for former commercial or public use buildings which are being converted into residential homes and above the shop type conversions, subject to appropriate planning permission/ planning exemption. Publishing figures which show that, out of 436 applications, 280 individuals have been approved for the grant in Co Wexford, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD, said the scheme was 'revitalising communities'. 'The momentum of this grant continues to build, with another significant increase in grants being paid on completion of works as more vacant and derelict properties are brought back into use as homes for people across Co Wexford,' said the minister. 'The grant is making a significant and important contribution to cities, towns, villages and rural areas, supporting people to bring these vacant and derelict properties back into use as homes and in tandem with that - helping to revitalise communities.' Overall, since the launch of the grant in July 2022, in Wexford there have been 436 applications, 280 approvals and 61 grants issued up to March 31 of this year. The number of grants being paid out continues to rise significantly each quarter, as works on properties are completed. Nine grants were issued in Wexford in Q1 2025 on completion of works, according to the new figures. Nationally, over €112 million has been paid out to Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant applicants, bringing more than 2,000 homes back into residential use from vacancy nationwide. More than 12,400 applications for the grant have been received across Ireland by the end of March this year.
Agriland
28-04-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Over €112m paid out under vacant property refurbishment grant
Over €112 million has been now paid out under the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant applicants, bringing more than 2,000 homes back into residential use. Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne said that more than 12,400 applications for the grant have been received across Ireland by the end of March this year. The number of grants being paid out continues to rise significantly each quarter, as works on properties are completed. More than 630 grants were issued in quarter one (Q1) 2025 on completion of works, according to the new figures published today (Monday, April 28). This represents a significant increase on the same period last year when 146 grants were paid out in Q1 2024. Vacant property Minister James Browne TD said that 'the momentum of this grant continues to build'. 'The grant is making a significant and important contribution to cities, towns, villages and rural areas, supporting people to bring these vacant and derelict properties back into use as homes and in tandem with that – helping to revitalise communities,' he added. By the end of March this year, Donegal County Council has the highest number of applications received with 1,114, of which 811 have been approved. Cork County has the second highest received (1,063), approved (797) and the highest number of grants paid out (152). Mayo County Council is in third place with 740 applications received and 116 grants paid out on completion of works. A total of 12,404 applications have been received for the grant since it was launched in July 2022. Of those, 8,652 applications have been approved. A total of €112.5 million has been paid out to 2,096 applicants. Minister Browne said that the payment of grants is expected to continue at pace throughout the year as more refurbishment works reach completion. The following table provides a full breakdown of the applications received, approved, and rejected, along with the number of grants issued by local authorities across the country to date: Local Authority Applications Received Applications Approved Applications Rejected Grants issued on completion of works Total value of grants issued Carlow County Council 127 75 1 24 €1,214,688 Cavan County Council 395 308 10 55 €3,092,857 Clare County Council 548 362 34 96 €5,532,006 Cork City Council 398 301 10 95 €4,975,141 Cork County Council 1,063 797 82 152 €8,220,217 Donegal County Council 1,114 811 32 139 €7,451,941 Dublin City Council 718 462 36 80 €3,720,448 Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council 312 286 3 98 €5,449,158 Fingal County Council 198 132 17 42 €2,040,557 Galway City Council 110 90 5 19 €890,009 Galway County Council 545 327 26 26 €1,363,939 Kerry County Council 583 306 115 54 €2,965,350 Kildare County Council 314 241 19 115 €6,364,301 Kilkenny County Council 269 190 4 34 €1,819,388 Laois County Council 215 162 9 67 €3,680,647 Leitrim County Council 239 178 5 52 €2,584,349 Limerick City and County Council 526 372 15 84 €4,334,051 Longford County Council 172 124 20 18 €1,027,811 Louth County Council 268 193 16 55 €2,945,959 Mayo County Council 740 496 55 116 €6,040,700 Meath County Council 249 151 1 40 €2,320,772 Monaghan County Council 311 210 12 67 €3,947,453 Offaly County Council 210 153 3 37 €2,008,631 Roscommon County Council 397 213 15 66 €3,913,228 Sligo County Council 393 332 16 86 €4,437,318 South Dublin County Council 177 145 9 48 €2,399,883 Tipperary County Council 588 449 33 131 €7,064,277 Waterford City and County Council 319 184 11 50 €2,689,380 Westmeath County Council 260 183 5 58 €2,988,309 Wexford County Council 436 280 3 61 €3,310,823 Wicklow County Council 210 139 30 31 €1,655,093 Total Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant applications by local authority to March 31, 2025
Irish Daily Mirror
23-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
Government missed its social housing targets again in 2024
The Irish Government has missed its social housing targets again. It comes months after it was confirmed that it had missed its overall housing target of 33,300 after promising the delivery of 40,000 new homes in 2024 during the general election. Housing for All, the Government's housing 'blueprint,' breaks down the number of privately owned, social, affordable and cost-rental housing units that should be built in any given year to meet their targets. James Browne's Department of Housing published the social and affordable housing delivery statistics for 2024 on Wednesday morning. It stated that 10,595 social homes were added to the social housing stock in 2024. This included 7,871 new-build homes, 1,501 acquisitions and 1,223 homes through leasing programmes. The target for social and affordable housing in 2024 was 12,930 homes. It was anticipated that 9,300 homes would be built, 1,500 homes would be acquired and 2,130 homes would be leased. The only target met was the acquisition target. The building target was missed by 1,429 homes (15 per cent), while some 907 fewer homes (43%) than expected were leased. The Department of Housing stated that, when the Housing Assistance Payment (8,121 payments) and Rental Accommodation Scheme (1,576 payments) are included, '20,292 housing supports were delivered across 2024.' However, these schemes were also below target. The target for 2024 was to create 8,800 HAP and 1,600 RAS tenancies. However, the government exceeded its target of 6,400 affordable and cost-rental housing. Some 7,126 homes were created in 2024. However, this included 2,851 instances where first-time buyers availed of the First Home 'bridge the gap' scheme. This gives the Government or local authorities an equity stake when first-time buyers buy privately built new build homes. Another 1,349 people availed of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and were also included in the 'affordable purchase' statistics. Just 779 affordable homes were actually built and available to buy. Some 2,147 cost-rental tenancies were also created. Minister Browne said that he 'acknowledged that the number of newly built social homes was below target for 2024 and that he would expect each local authority to do everything possible to meet their targets for 2025'. He also confirmed that he will now publish quarterly performance reports to ' clearly outline how each local authority is delivering on individual targets for new-build social housing'. Minister Browne said: 'To drive home a renewed urgency in delivering social housing, I will be meeting with the chief executives of all 31 local authorities to discuss their targets and plans to bring forward projects on their own land. 'Reaching our overall annual targets is dependent on each local authority meeting their target and we cannot afford for any individual local authority to fall behind.'
