A government scheme to attract residents to live on Irish islands drew in twelve applicants for Donegal’s off-shore islands.
The scheme, which has been making world headlines since 2023, had just 30 applications in total in two years.
The ‘Our Living Islands’ scheme offers higher grant rates to people seeking to renovate derelict properties on islands and make them a permanent home, with Árainn Mhór being the main island in Donegal that people applied to live on.
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has confirmed to Donegal Daily that 30 island applications have been received in total for islands off Cork, Donegal, Galway, Sligo and Mayo, and 22 applications have been approved or approved in principle.
The island edition of the Croí Conaithe grants are up to €84,000, which is 20% higher than refurbishment grants on the mainland.
Islanders are entitled to claim a maximum of €60,000 rather than €50,000 on the mainland for vacant properties, and €84,000 for derelict properties as opposed to €70,000 on the mainland.
It is part of the ‘Our Living Islands’ national policy, launched in response to the drop in island populations.
