Details of the new Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund Scheme were announced by Acting Director of Services Fiona Ni Chuinn.  The scheme was launched by the Government in July as part of the Government’s ‘Housing for All’ plan:

·         The initiative consists of two funding streams, the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and the Ready to Build Scheme for serviced sites or new homes. The initial stream is to provide funding for the refurbishment of vacant properties in towns and villages, which was expanded to rural areas in September.

·         The target of the scheme is to provide 2,000 homes countrywide under the scheme by 2025 which will be activated by the Council’s Vacant Homes Officer.

·         Under stream one, a maximum grant of €30,000 is available for occupation as a principal residence and can be payable up to €50,000 if the application meets certain criteria. To be eligible, properties must either be on the Derelict Sites Register or have  a Surveyors/Engineers report, stating the property is unsafe, or structurally unsound. Properties must be vacant for two years or more and built before 1993.

·         The Ready to Build Scheme under stream two in respect of serviced sites will mean local authorities will make available service sites to potential individual purchasers. Sites must be available at a discount of the market value, dependent on servicing costs, but not exceeding €30,000 for the site as a principal private residence. Priority under the scheme is for applicants who are first-time buyers or who have a particular need. The scheme is open for applications from both urban and rural areas. The scheme, will be adjudicated using criteria such as the level of vacancy, alignment with local development plans and the role of the fund as part of wider regeneration plans. There is clawback on the scheme of up to ten years. Structural works, painting, roofing and professional services are among the works considered under the grant.

·         To date, thirteen applications had been submitted. Applications for the scheme are currently being received and can be made online.

The Members welcomed the update on the scheme and discussed as follows:

·         Is the scheme open to vacant rural home owners at present and is there access to information on the Council’s website?

·         Is the local authority was receiving the maximum grant available or if the grant was only applicable to sites that are currently vacant or for sites that can be purchased.

·         Does the scheme apply to properties being considered for change of use? If so, would property owners have to apply for change of use planning if converting a property from a business to a home?

·         Is there an opportunity for the local authority to avail of other grants to refurbish vacant properties in towns and villages as vacant homes are being under-utilised.

·         There is a concern in respect of recipients moving to a town or village setting, from a rural area. There is a huge desire among many legislators to move people from rural areas with a consequently negative impact on those areas.

·         Rental income should be eligible for full ‘clawback’ after ten years and that rental income would be used to pay back any clawback.

·         Is there was a second part of the scheme in respect of affordable serviced sites?

·         There is lot of confusion concerning grants at present and it is a huge disadvantage in having in live in a property for ten years to be eligible for the grant. Would like to see applicants being considered while works are being carried out to properties.

·         The eligibility threshold should be reduced to 2/3 years, rather than 10 years, otherwise householders would have to borrow money.

·         Would like to see the LA carry out an independent assessment and apply the grant based on that assessment.

·         ‘Repair and Lease’ scheme seems to be more suitable for landlords

·         If a couple owning a house are currently in the process of renovating a house, can they now apply for the grant?

·         The scheme should be applied to principal private residencies and said there was merit in the scheme being extended to the private landlords. A condition of eligibility should be that refurbished properties would be available to the rental market for a number of years.

·         The availability of funds in the scheme may be a limiting factor in extending the scheme. If the scheme were extended to rental properties, then the value of rents would have to be reduced for a ten-year period.

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr Kilduff

SECONDED by Cllr. Ward

It was AGREED to write to the Minister to extend the scheme to private landlords for rental properties

Responding to the queries raised, Ms. Ní Chuinn stated:

·         There was initial confusion over the 400 population as originally envisaged but the scheme is available countywide.

·         The definition of vacant sites were local authority sites, not privately owned or development-led.

·         The Government had set aside €50m at the start of the scheme so it may not be extended to rental properties.

·         With regard to property change in usage, there were derogations in place, noting there were other schemes available to householders such as the ‘Buy and Renew Scheme’ to restore properties, only where there was a housing need.

·         Stream 2 relates to affordable sites.

·         The Council has identified affordable sites in each of the towns and sent a list to the Department.

·         The information will be available on the website to view soon.

The Chief Executive stated that a number of national schemes were being launched to activate housing need and availability. He said the local authority had appointed Vacant Homes Officers and said Members would receive a summary of each operational housing scheme in due course.