NO GRANTS to refurbish vacant properties in Donegal have been drawn down since the government scheme began, new figures have revealed.
Since July 2022 only 21 grants under the Vacant Property Refurbishment Scheme have been drawn down nationally, with no grants drawn down at all in Donegal.
The scheme may award a grant of €50,000 for someone seeking to reform a vacant building and turn it into a home, with a top-up of €20,000 also available.
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Finance, Pearse Doherty TD has criticised the Government’s failure to tackle vacant and derelict properties amid a deepening housing crisis.
Speaking during Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil today Deputy Doherty said: “Darragh O’Brien’s housing report was notable for the complete absence of information relating to one scheme in particular – the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant.
“It is little wonder why – because the details of scheme published separately by the Department are staggering.
“In the past 18 months, only 21 grants have been drawn down from the Government’s flagship scheme.
“Donegal is one of the worst affected by dereliction in the State, and yet not a single grant has been paid out under the Government’s scheme – not one.
“Right throughout the State, in our cities, towns and villages, people are all too aware of the scourge of dereliction and vacancy.
“Something that grates all the more, as our people face a deepening housing crisis.
“Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael created this housing crisis, and the longer you remain in office the worse it will get – that is the reality of the situation.
“Sinn Féin has put forward a much more ambitious proposal for bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use.
“Through increased capital funding to Local Authorities, we want to see up to 4,000 vacant and derelict properties a year brought into use for social and affordable housing.”
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