Mayo County Council awards €2 million under property refurbishment grant

Mayo County Council has awarded €2 million in grant payments to successful households of the Croi Conaithe Vacant Property Refurbishment grant. 

This significant milestone comes on the second-year anniversary of the grant, which was established to provide a pathway to homeownership for applicants. 

The introduction of the grant resulted in an unprecedented response from members of the public across the county. The Vacant Homes Office of Mayo County Council administers the grant on behalf of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. 

To date, the Vacant Homes Office has received 577 applications under the grant, with the significant number of 365 applicants having been approved thus far. 

Of those applicants who have been approved for a grant, 54 percent are applying for the derelict top up grant, with 46 percent applying for the vacant property grant.

_{Local councillors promoting the grant}

The payments have been paid across 41 individual households, with the figure representing the number of homes that would have been vacant and in some cases derelict, but because of the grant are now refurbished and back in residential use.

The grant amounts available under the Croí Cónaithe Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant are significant and are there to support the applicant bringing a property back into residential use. 

Grants of up to a maximum of €50,000 are available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and properties which will be made available for rent. The grant is increased by a further €20,000 if the property is deemed to be derelict.

The geographical spread of the approved applicants further proves the grant’s popularity. Ballina Municipal District (MD) saw 74 approved, 68 from Castlebar MD, 80 from West Mayo MD and the remaining 143 from the Claremorris MD. 

Tom Gilligan, Director of Services in Mayo County Council, said the grants have ‘real potential to change the landscape of our towns and rural communities’. 

Deirdre Swords, Vacant Homes Officer for Mayo County Council, said: “Part of my job as Vacant Homes Officer is to ensure that as many people around the county are aware of the supports available to bring properties back into residential use. The options are varied and can suit people in all walks of life.”

The Vacant Home Office is available to offer advice and assistance to any property owner considering bringing a property back into residential use, a member of the public can get in touch by contacting: vacanthomes@mayococo.ie