Consideration should be given to extending eligibility for the Vacant Above the Shop Grant to small and micro enterprises, according to Fine Gael councillor Andrew Reddington.
Cllr Reddington raised the issue at a recent council meeting following the launch of the new Vacant Above the Shop Grant on April 1. The scheme provides grants of up to €140,000 to support the conversion and refurbishment of vacant space above commercial premises into residential accommodation, while retaining the commercial use of the ground floor.
Welcoming the initiative, Cllr Reddington described the grant as “a significant step forward” in addressing housing needs and revitalising town centres.
“Towns and villages across Galway and the country have enormous untapped potential in vacant space above commercial premises, and bringing that space into use as homes is exactly the kind of practical solution we need,” he said.
However, he warned that the scheme’s current eligibility criteria could limit its effectiveness, as many above-the-shop properties are not held in private ownership.
“The reality is that many of these properties are owned through limited companies, small partnerships or other business structures,” he said. “If we are serious about maximising uptake and genuinely tackling vacancy in our town centres, we need to ensure the eligibility criteria reflect that.”
Cllr Reddington acknowledged that the Government’s Housing Plan includes a commitment to examine extending the scheme to small and micro companies. He said he would be working with local TDs to ensure the review is completed as quickly as possible.
“This review is due to take place in the second half of this year, and I will be pushing to ensure it concludes quickly and delivers a real broadening of eligibility,” he said. “The vacant space is there — we need the scheme to reach it.”
The wider Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant scheme has recorded strong demand nationally, with more than 16,000 applications submitted to local authorities to date.
