Sinn Féin TD for Galway West/South Mayo Mairéad Farrell has called on the Minister for Housing, Darragh O’Brien, to urgently review the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant as figures show that zero refurbishment grants have been drawn down in Galway since the scheme opened in April 2022.
Teachta Farrell said: “These new figures show that the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant scheme is deeply flawed. In the 20 months since the scheme opened just one refurbishment grant has been drawn down in county Galway. None has been drawn down in the city. This isn’t good enough. People in Galway affected by the housing crisis need to see an ambitious and workable plan that will deliver homes locally.”
“The scheme has also been heavily criticised by applicants as the grant is paid in arrears, meaning that applicants have to front-up the money and claim the grant after the works have been completed and paid for. In many cases, applicants in Galway do not have this cash up front and this is a barrier to accessing the funding,” she added.
Mairéad Farrell TD outlined that Sinn Feinn have been “highlighting these issues for months, but Government has not yet acted to revise the scheme”.
She also said: “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 4000 vacant and derelict properties bought and refurbished by Local Authorities and Approved Housing Bodies for social, affordable rental and affordable purchase housing. This would make a real difference for people affected by the housing crisis here in Galway.”
Teachta Farrell believes that “Government must be much more ambitious when it comes to tackling dereliction and vacancy”. She added that “when problems emerge, the Government must be much more responsive to resolve these issues”.
She believes that the “people in Galway deserve better”.
