Minister Charlie McConalogue has encouraged people to consider renovating derelict homes after it was revealed Donegal has highest number of Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant applications.
Donegal County Council has the highest number of applications (934), approvals (614) and grant payments (60) for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant.
Under the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, a payment of up to €70,000 is available to turn a vacant or derelict house or building into a permanent home or a rental property.
Encouraging eligible local property owners to apply for the grant, Minister McConalogue said: “This financial assistance will help turn run around properties across all areas of Donegal into homes once again. These vital supports apply whether people are building their new home in the countryside, beside their farm, or in a local town and village here in Donegal.”
“I’d like to thank my Cabinet colleague and Minister for Housing, Darragh O’Brien and the team at Donegal County Council for the successful rollout of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant. I hope that the momentum of the scheme will continue to grow.”
Figures published this week by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, show that around €45 million has been paid out in relation to the refurbishment of more than 860 homes.
The figures which outline applications, approvals and payments under the scheme up to the end of September 2024, also show the exponential increase in the rate of grants issued to homeowners following completion of work. The grant is paid out upon completion of all the works involved and as the scheme continues, more and more completions are coming on stream. In Q3 2024, 336 grants were paid out, this compares to 226 in Q2 2024 and 146 in Q1 2024.
Overall, since the launch of the grant just over two years ago, there have been 10,097 applications, 6,713 approvals and 867 grants issued nationally.
“It is really important that everything is done to make sure properties are brought into circulation and the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is certainly happening in this regard,” the Donegal minister added.
Application forms, further information and frequently asked questions about the scheme are available at the following link: gov.ie – Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant (www.gov.ie)
Queries in relation to the scheme can be emailed to vacanthomes@donegalcoco.ie or by telephone to 074 9153900.
Completed application forms can be submitted by email to vacanthomes@donegalcoco.ie or in hard copy to the Vacant Homes Officer, Donegal County Council, County House, Lifford, Co. Donegal, F93 Y622.
