Local Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, has welcomed an announcement confirming the allocation of €2.5 million to Westmeath County Council to rectify building dereliction in town centres.
“This is part of our ‘Housing for All’ strategy and is available to Local Authorities eligible for the Urban Regeneration Development Fund. We all know derelict properties in our towns and this fund will enable the Local Authority to acquire the most suitable which have potential for residential use.
“Of course, this is a challenging area for Government, but the quarterly review of ‘Housing for All’ shows that progress is being made with work starting on 13,000 new homes nationally since January boosted by, among others, the Help to Buy and First Home Schemes," Deputy Burke stated.
The Minister of State noted that the Government were in the process of building more social housing than any year since 1975.
"This announcement is really going to impact on supply which we have been working so hard to increase, the regeneration fund aiming to breathe new life into our towns and lift the roadblocks that have been there in the past delaying viable projects from proceeding.
“I was so impressed to see the 105 homes of both social and affordable homes which were launched recently in Athlone and Moate. This is a real example of progress being made and homes coming on stream for our communities.
“This regeneration fund will complement existing schemes such as the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant which stands at €50,000 for vacant and €70,000 for a derelict property. The grant has also been extended to include rental properties and properties built up to and including 2007.
“Incentives to activate increased housing supply, including temporary waiving of local authority development contributions and the refunding of Uisce Éireann water and wastewater connection charges will all have an impact over time and increase housing supply in the short to medium term,”
