The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, is processing a new Croí Conaithe (towns) fund. This falls under the Housing For All scheme. The grant is part of a multi-pronged approach to tackle unoccupied and dilapidated buildings across the country.
Independent TD for Galway East, Sean Canney, reinforces that grants aimed at supporting people to buy derelict properties “need to be effective”. It is hoped that the scheme will assist people who buy derelict properties to renovate and live in.
A Department of Housing spokesperson commented that: “The objective will be that those who buy a vacant house will be able to secure funding through their local authority towards renovation and other costs.” The new fund for servicing sites for new homes in regional towns and villages, alongside supporting the refurbishment of vacant houses , will play a key role.
The spokesperson added that public infrastructure agencies, such as Irish Water, and local communities will provide serviced sites for housing, which “will help attract people to build their own homes and live in smaller towns and villages”.
Canny also raised the issue of protected sites being a “stumbling block” that needs to be resolved with clear guidance from local authorities. In the deputy’s view, instead of leaving protected structures to decay, these can be refurbished and become a new home for buyers.
The full details of the scheme are yet to be finalized. These will be announced in the first quarter of this year.
LSL News.