More than 400 grants to restore vacant properties in Limerick approved

MORE than 400 grants to restore vacant properties to their former glories have been approved in Limerick.

That’s according to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne who has released figures from across the country.

In Limerick, more than €5.3m has, or is due to be paid out to property owners to help them refurbish units which are out of use.

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Some 408 grants were formally approved, and 103 grants have been issued so far, data from the Government has revealed.

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

The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant offers up to €50,000, or up to €70,000 for derelict properties, to help renovate vacant homes for private use or rental.

Funded by the Department of Housing through the Croí Cónaithe scheme, it is available through local authorities.

Since the scheme began, almost 10,000 applications for the grant had been approved across Ireland by the end of last month.

More than 700 grants were paid in the second quarter of this year on completion of works, according to the new figures.

It’s a significant increase on the same period last year when 226 grants were paid out.

Minister of State and local TD Niall Collins said: “It’s hugely encouraging that over 400 vacant property refurbishment grant applications have been approved by council. The grant helps people to bring vacant houses back to use and turn them into homes, breathing new life into our communities, and the number of grants being paid out will continue to rise significantly in the months ahead.”