Ballyhoura Development welcome the announcement of the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund which aims to rejuvenate towns and villages provided by the government as part of the 'Housing for All' strategy.

Grants of up to €50,000 are available to people who would like to refurbish a vacant property in towns and villages across the region to use as their principal residence.

The fund scheme supports the sustainable reuse of vacant properties as new homes.

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A grant of up to a maximum of €30,000 (VAT inclusive) will be available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence, including the conversion of a property that has not been used as residential heretofore.

Where the refurbishment costs are expected to exceed the standard grant of up to €30,000, a maximum top-up grant amount of up to €20,000 will be available where the property is confirmed by the applicant to be derelict (i.e. structurally unsound and dangerous) bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €50,000.

The property must be used as the principal private residence and must have been built before 1993 and been vacant for two or more years. Qualifying properties should be within a town or village or within walking distance of a town or village along public footpaths primarily.

The following categories of works will be eligible for grant assistance, subject to a reasonable cost assessment by the local authority and to any limits for specific works as may be set out in guidance from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage:

• Substructure works, including works to foundations, rising walls, floor slabs, damp-proofing and underpinning
• Structural works to superstructure, including walls, party walls, chimneys, suspended timber floors, structural timbers
• Works to internal walls, stairs, and landings, and internal wall completions including doors, windows, and applied finishes
• External walls completions including doors, windows, sills, and applied finishes
• Roof completions, including flashings, fascias, soffits, gutters, downpipes
• Building services including plumbing, heating, ventilation, electrical services, telecommunications
• Painting and decoration required because of works carried out
• Extension within the ambit of exempt development under planning regulations, as part of a wider refurbishment
• Necessary external works and site development works carried out within the curtilage of the site
• Professional services associated with works

Those applying for the grant will be required to indicate on the application form to confirm if they are applying for the vacant property refurbishment grant alone or the vacant property refurbishment grant including the derelict property top-up grant.

Further information is contained in the scheme outline, application form and associated FAQs that can be downloaded on the gov.ie website below:

Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund

For further information, please contact the Vacant Homes Officer in your local authority.

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Advice and support is available from Ballyhoura Development. Please contact your local Ballyhoura Development Officer for further guidance.