COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF LUCAN / PALMERSTOWN / NORTH CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

QUESTION NO. 15

QUESTION: Councillor G. O'Connell

To ask the Chief Executive for a report on the progress to date in bringing unoccupied private housing into use and to include in the report what support, if any, the Council can prove to the private sector to rehabilitate such homes?

REPLY:

Under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund delivered by Local Authorities, the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant provides people with a grant to support the refurbishment of vacant properties.

Eligible properties include vacant and derelict properties built up to and including 2007. A grant of €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of a vacant property and a grant of €70,000 is available for the refurbishment of a derelict property. A maximum of two grants are available to an individual, one for the principal private residence of the owner and one grant for a property to be rented. Full information on the scheme including all eligibility criteria is available on the Council’s website Vacant Homes - SDCC.

62 Vacant Homes Croí Conáithe applications have been made to the Council to date. The status of these applications is set out below: 

Approved 36
Approved in principle   4
Declined In Progress  17
Declined    5

There are currently 59 homes included on the Vacant Homes Register. The ownership of the properties identified are investigated with a view to engaging with owners to bring the properties back into productive with the assistance of the supports available.

632 properties were surveyed as part of a county wide survey carried out by the Council in 2023. These properties were a mix of commercial and residential units. As a result, 258 properties were identified as possibly vacant and further investigation is necessary to determine whether these additional properties can be added to the Vacant Homes Register.

The Council has received an initial allocation of €1.2 million to fund acquisitions under the Urban Regeneration Development Fund (URDF) Round 3 funding to activate long term vacant and derelict buildings. A proposed list of seven properties have been identified to be targeted for acquisition/refurbishment under this funding stream and have been submitted to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage for approval. Ownership of these properties is to be established.