More than €4m paid in grants for works to restore vacant Westmeath homes

New figures show that more than €4m has been paid out by the Government in grants to property owners for works carried out to bring 75 previously vacant or derelict Westmeath homes back into residential use.

The payments were made through the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant scheme, which is administered by local authorities.

Since the scheme began, three years ago, nearly 200 applications for the grant have so far been approved in Westmeath - but the funding of up to €70,000 per property is only paid after the refurbishment works have been carried out.

In Roscommon, close to €5 million has been paid over in grants for works carried out at 85 previously vacant or derelict homes. Some 245 applications for the grant in Roscommon have been approved to date.

"There is a time lag between being awarded a grant and receiving it, as grants are paid out on completion of work and the provision of necessary paperwork," stated the Department, though it added that the number of grants being paid "continues to rise significantly each quarter" as works on properties are completed.

In Westmeath, 290 applications have so far been received for the scheme, with 197 of these approved and six rejected to date. The grants were paid out in respect of works completed at 75 properties, with a total of €4,058,309 in funding being shared.

The strong level of interest in the scheme in county Roscommon has been seen with 419 applications received, 245 of which have been approved, while 16 have been rejected. The 85 grants paid in Roscommon amounted to a total of €4,963,388.

Nationally, just over €155 million has been paid out to Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant applicants as a contribution to bringing 2,856 homes back into residential use from vacancy.

By the end of June this year, Donegal County Council had the highest number of applications received, 1,247, of which 922 have been approved and 226 paid out.

"I am pleased at the serious impact the vacant property refurbishment grant delivers," said Housing Minister James Browne.

"The good work shown by this grant continues to grow, with the increase in payments reflecting the fact that more vacant and derelict properties are being brought back into use across the country.

"I take a very firm, indeed grim view of any properties left to lie vacant at this point in time," he said.