Over €1 million paid out to bring homes in Louth back to use last quarter

Thirteen Vacant Property Refurbishment grant applications have been approved in Louth in the second quarter of this year (Q2) according to figures released by the government today.

April, May and June saw the Council receive 28 applications with one application rejected in this time and 17 grants paid out following the completion of works (some of which were from previous quarters).

In total, Louth County Council has received 298 applications since the scheme's inception, with 206 applications approved, 75 paid out following the completion of works and €4,144,275 paid out in total. Seventeen applications have been rejected in this time. 

Nationally, over €155.2 million has been paid out to Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant applicants, bringing 2,856 homes back into residential use from vacancy.

Since the scheme began, almost 10,000 applications for the grant have been approved across Ireland by the end of June this year.

Welcoming the numbers of homes returned from vacancy, Minister for Housing James Browne TD said: 

“We are in a crisis situation, and I am determined to pull every lever at my disposal to get things moving and get houses that are lying there under used or unused to become desperately needed homes. 

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“I am pleased at the serious impact the vacant property refurbishment grant delivers. The good work shown by this grant continues to grow, with the increase in payments reflecting the fact that more vacant and derelict properties are being brought back into use across the country. I take a very firm, indeed grim view of any properties left to lie vacant at this point in time. 

“As well as delivering new homes for people and families, this grant does genuinely mark a key intervention when it comes to the liveability, accessibility and indeed safety of our cities, towns, villages and rural areas as well as helping to revitalise communities. I want people living in our urban spaces in social hubs of communities. We want thriving streets as people grow up and grow old. This is something I feel strongly about and I am pursuing with intention.”