Cork TD: ‘Endless red tape’ hampering vacant property refurbishment scheme

A CORK TD has called on the Government to make “urgent revisions” to the vacant property refurbishment grant scheme.

Figures contained within the Department of Housing’s report for the fourth quarter of 2023 for the grant have revealed that just one was issued on the completion of works across all of Cork last year.

The figures showed that no allocations were drawn down in Cork city, despite Cork City Council receiving 167 applications. Just one of the 420 applications received by Cork County Council were drawn down.

Commenting on the figures Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central, Thomas Gould, said that of the last four Government updates on the grant, one for each quarter of 2023, “not one allocation has been drawn down for a property in Cork city”.

“This despite Cork City Council receiving 167 applications,” said Mr Gould.

Delays

“Many of these have faced long delays because of a lack of resources to survey sites, endless red tape and bureaucracy, and a failure to properly resource the scheme.”

The vacant property refurbishment grant is a payment people can avail of if they are turning a vacant house or building into a permanent home or a rental property.

If the costs exceed the standard grant of up to €50,000, a top-up grant amount of up to €20,000 is available.

“Over the course of last year, we heard applicants raise very serious concerns about the way the scheme was operating,” said Mr Gould.

“The grant is paid in arrears. There are significant delays in receiving payment. And there are real problems in co-ordinating mortgage finance with the grant application.”

The Cork North Central TD has called on the Government to implement “urgent revisions” to the scheme.

“Grant approval in principle prior to mortgage approval should be introduced,” said Mr Gould.

“Grant payments should be made in phases directly to the contractor as works are being completed. And the application and approval process should be streamlined to ensure decisions are made as quickly as possible.”

A spokesperson for Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien, said they felt it was “ironic that Deputy Gould should seek enhancements to a scheme which his party has committed to scrapping in their alternative budget”.

Feedback

“Feedback on the grant has been very positive to date, with more than 6,050 applications reported and over 3,283 applications approved.

“The application process involves the local authority reviewing applications and arranging for a qualified person to visit the property to check the works applied for and the proposed cost. Decisions on applications are currently being made, on average, in a 12-week period.

“Following confirmation of a successful application and the works being completed, the local authority conducts a final property visit to review that the work has been completed in line with the grant application. Once the local authority is satisfied, they will then pay the grant.”