Questions

172. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress that has been made in bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use in County Galway; whether additional supports are being considered to assist local authorities and homeowners in returning these properties to the housing stock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48305/26]

312. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to review a gap in the vacant above-the-shop-grant scheme (details supplied); to outline the grants being introduced to support same; the timeframe for their delivery or when they will open to applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48394/26]

318. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department is considering any additional supports for the conversion of vacant upper floors above shops in towns and villages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38390/26]

578. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of properties which have been brought back into use under the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant in County Meath, by year since 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45421/26]

227. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will extend the eligibility criteria for the vacant above-the-shop grant to registered companies; if he acknowledges that the current restriction limiting applications to individual applicants inhibits the uptake of the scheme; his views on whether extending eligibility to corporate owners would rapidly accelerate housing s…

132. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social homes currently vacant for longer than six months, by local authority area; the reasons for such vacancies; and the measures being taken to return these properties to use as quickly as possible. [44218/26]

143. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to give an update on the work his Department is undertaking to address the scourge of vacant properties (details supplied); if demands will be put on property owners to use it or lose it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44506/26]

1023. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant and derelict properties; the number of applications approved to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41596/26]

1028. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures being taken to tackle vacancy and dereliction in town centres including Mullingar, Athlone, Longford Town and Granard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41639/26]

1070. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will introduce interim measures or conditional approvals to allow micro-company owners to qualify for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant without incurring significant tax liabilities, solely to qualify for the grant ahead of the proposed policy review in the second half of 2026; when any structural change to allow for …

1099. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the efforts being undertaken to streamline the vacant property refurbishment grant application process to ensure that decisions are returned in a timely manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42904/26]

1124. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is scope in Budget 2027 to broaden the criteria of eligibility for the Vacant and Derelict Property Grant to restore farm outbuildings and make them available for residential use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43501/26]

1135. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether consideration is being given to increasing funding available to local authorities for the remediation of long-term vacant and derelict properties in town and village centres. [43748/26]

1167. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications for vacant property refurbishment grants for each local authority, in tabular form; the number granted; the average timeframe for decision across each local authority; the timeframe for approval of payment and timeframe to payment; and the timeframe for final inspection. [44164/26]

133. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing units owned by Kildare County Council currently not in use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40480/26]

675. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to list the Statutory Instruments, circulars or other guidance notes underpinning the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant since its introduction in 2022 to date; and if this Deputy will be provided with copies of each. [39046/26]

722. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of properties in County Tipperary in respect of which the vacant homes tax has been applied; the number of properties in Tipperary currently recorded as vacant or derelict by Tipperary County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39927/26]

141. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the voids programme review committed to in the Government's housing plan. [37768/26]

242. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the eligibility criteria for the vacant property refurbishment grant, including the Vacant Above The Shop Grant; whether micro enterprises, small companies, partnerships or other non-individual ownership structures are eligible to apply; and whether such eligibility was considered at design stage; and if he will consider broadeni…

249. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the Croí Cónaithe schemes in Carlow and Kilkenny; the number of properties have now benefitted from them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37213/26]

605. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is provision to amend the criteria for the shop grant scheme to allow limited companies (LTD companies) to qualify for the over the shop grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37262/26]

609. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the provision to amend the criteria for the shop grant scheme to allow limited companies to qualify for the over the shop grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37367/26]

614. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider increasing the grants for vacant properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37464/26]

624. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to give an update on funding provided to local authorities to bring vacant housing stock back into use; the number of vacant local authority properties at year end for 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37594/26]

336. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of local authority owned houses currently lying vacant in County Mayo; the reasons these properties remain idle; and the steps being taken to bring them back into use as social housing, particularly in light of ongoing homelessness and housing shortages. [35805/26]