New ‘Above the Shop’ grant to boost housing and revitalise Mayo towns

A new government grant aimed at converting vacant spaces above shops into homes could significantly boost housing supply in Mayo, according to Minister of State Alan Dillon.

The newly launched Vacant Above the Shop Grant, available from today (Thursday, April 2), will provide funding of up to €135,000 to support the conversion of unused upper floors of commercial buildings into residential units, while maintaining business use at street level.

Minister Dillon said the initiative has the potential to transform town centres across Mayo.

“These measures represent a practical and impactful step towards addressing housing supply challenges while breathing new life into our towns and villages,” he said.

Under the scheme, grants of up to €95,000 will be available for the creation of one residential unit, rising to €115,000 for two units and €135,000 for three or more units.

READ MORE: Mayo set to benefit from new American Presidents Trail and America 250 initiatives

An additional expert advice grant of up to €5,000 will also be offered to help cover professional costs associated with planning and design.

The funding is targeted at buildings in towns and villages where upper floors have been vacant for at least two years, even if the ground-floor commercial premises remain in use.

Minister Dillon said the scheme builds on the success of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, which has already seen strong uptake nationwide.

“To date, there have been over 16,000 applications, more than 12,000 approvals and over 4,400 payments made, representing almost €250 million in investment,” he said.

Additional funding is also being introduced under that scheme, including €20,000 extra for a second unit and a further €20,000 where three or more units are created in former commercial buildings.

READ MORE: Mayo airport completes facility upgrade and doubles PRM parking capacity

Minister Dillon said tackling vacancy is key to addressing housing shortages.

“We can’t have idle properties,” he said. “By focusing on vacant spaces above shops, we are making better use of existing buildings and making projects more financially viable.”

The initiative is expected to support increased housing supply while helping to revitalise town centres throughout Mayo by bringing empty buildings back into active use.