Offaly Minister encourages homeowners to apply for grant for vacant farmhouses

Minister for Landuse and Biodiversity Pippa Hackett is encouraging local homeowners to consider applying for the new Pilot Conservation Advice Grant Scheme for vacant traditional farmhouses. The Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage is running the pilot scheme to provide grants for expert conservation advice to owners of vacant farmhouses in private ownership who are availing of and/or considering the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant.

Minister Hackett said: "For decades, examples of vacant or derelict cottages across the Midlands have been a sad reminder of vibrant communities no longer with us. Now is the time to find out which cottages and traditional farmhouses can be viably brought back into use as living homes and a new grant will go towards the cost of the survey.

"More occupied houses, renovated respectfully, will enhance and conserve our local built heritage. But more importantly, they have the potential to breath life back into our rural communities, provide more opportunities for people to live locally and to contribute to our local economies, enhance our cultural heritage and create direct and indirect employment.

"The Pilot Conservation Advice Grant Scheme for Vacant Traditional Farmhouses will provide a grant of up to €7,500 (ex VAT) to cover the cost of having a conservation expert provide tailored conservation advice for the property owner. This survey and report will help the owner understand the heritage value and potential of their vacant property and can be accessed alongside grants for renovation of vacant and derelict homes. As with all Government grants, I recommend careful consideration of application process and eligibility and if in doubt get in touch with my office.”

The Conservation Advice Grant Scheme for Vacant Traditional Farmhouses will provide a grant of up to €7,500 (ex VAT) to cover the cost of having a conservation expert with proven and appropriate expertise to visit the property, conduct a survey, and compile tailored conservation advice for the property owner. The report will outline the condition of the building, suggest conservation repairs and improvements which would improve the building and enhance the building’s character, energy efficiency, integrity, and amenity.

In July 2022 the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was launched to support bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use.

From May 1, 2023, a grant of up to a maximum of €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent, including the conversion of a property which has not been used as residential before.

Where the refurbishment costs are expected to exceed the standard grant of up to €50,000, a maximum top-up grant amount of up to €20,000 is available where the property is confirmed by the applicant to be derelict or where the property is already on the local authority’s Derelict Sites Register, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €70,000.

Properties must be vacant for two years or more and built up to and including 2007.