Empty Homes Grant Being Delivered At a Snail’s Pace -Tóibín

Thursday 13th March 2025, 14:54 pm

Aontú Leader and Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín has revealed that less than 13% of all applications for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant were paid out in the entire last year and has called for reform of the scheme to support recipients in carrying out works.

In 2024, 11,327 applications were made for the grant with only 1,449 having actually resulted in a payment being made. Of the 7,738 applications approved, only 18.7% were paid out.

The Meath West TD said:

“The vacant property refurbishment grant is supposed to act as a key component of bringing empty properties back into use.

"In the last year alone, the State paid out €77.1m toward these grants, yet there is such a low number of approved cases that have actually resulted in a grant being issued.

"According to the 2022 census there are 163,433 vacant homes in Ireland. In 2024 all of the grant payments made would only bring less than 1% back into use.

"According to data compiled by GeoDirectory for the last three months of 2024, Leitrim, Mayo and Roscommon had vacancy rates of up to 12% of the housing stock.

"This is a catastrophe for those who are waiting on a home and scathing indictment of the government's plan to address the housing crisis.

"Whilst applications are being processed by local authorities, it’s evident these are not being processed at a rate that would make a difference and the government must reform the process to speed the payments of these grants.

"Reform of the grant payment process must be prioritised by the Minister to make it easier to use. At present, those in receipt of the grant can only claim the grant when the work has been done and must do so within 13 months of their accepted application. In order to increase the take up of the grant and bring homes back to use, there should be an increase to the completion time from 13 months to 20 months; and the grant should be able to be drawn down in a staged fashioned in the same manner that banks allow for their funds to be drawn down for self-builds”

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