An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin and Housing Minister, Darragh O'Brien have launched a €50 million fund which will allow vacant and underused buildings all over Cork be refurbished and put back into residential use.
The fund, entitled Croí Cónaithe, is an ambition of the Government's 'Our Rural Future' policy, which aims to tackle dereliction in Ireland and bring life back into town centres. The fund also sets out Pathway 4 of the 'Housing For All' policy.
The scheme is will benefit those who wish to turn a vacant house or building into a private residence and become part of the community in the area, furthering the aim to create town centres that function as viable, vibrant and attractive locations for people to live, work and visit.
The 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 of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence, 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, and this can also be combined with the SEAI Better Energy Home Scheme that covers works of up to €26,750.
Announcing the new initiative, the Taoiseach Micheál Martin emphasised the need for the fund:
“We know there is a great appetite across the towns and villages of Cork to bring vacant properties back into use for home ownership and this scheme will provide the ability to turn many of those opportunities into reality. This initiative is among the suite of measures in Housing for All which are designed to ensure that everyone has access to good quality housing as well as seeking to strengthen and diversify rural towns and villages to be a focus for local housing and employment growth.”
