Taoiseach Micheál Martin, together with Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien T.D., Minister of State Peter Burke T.D and Minister of State Malcolm Noonan T.D recently shared a report on progress of the implementation of Housing for All, including the launch of a new €50m Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: “Housing for All provides a comprehensive plan, and record levels of funding to tackle the single most urgent and important social issue facing our country. Despite the challenges, we are on track to deliver 24,600 new homes in 2022.”
The Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund will be delivered through local authorities who will provide a grant to support the refurbishment of vacant properties, with priority given to applications in areas where the level of vacancy or dereliction is high. A grant of up to €30,000 will be available for the refurbishment, including the conversion of a property which has not been used as a home before now.
Where a property is derelict, a maximum top-up grant amount of up to €20,000 will be available, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €50,000. This can also be combined with the SEAI Better Energy Home Scheme that covers works of up to €26,750.
Minister Peter Burke stated: “The new fund is part of a suite of measures undertaken by the government to tackle vacancy. It will be complemented by the upcoming Vacant Property Tax to help bring more properties back into use across the country.”