Timeline given for Living City tax incentive scheme in Athlone
Work to prepare for the Living City Initiative scheme has been "progressing behind the scenes", Town Mayor Cllr Vinny McCormack confirmed this week.
Westmeath County Council has until the end of January 2026 to propose Special Regeneration Areas in Athlone for inclusion as part of the regeneration scheme which was announced as part of Budget 2026.
The Living City Initiative scheme provides financial incentives to encourage investment and bring derelict, vacant or underused properties back into use.
The initiative, which runs until December 31, 2030, has been expanded to cover properties built before 1975 with dedicated tax relief introduced for the conversion of commercial properties into residential use, including ‘over the shop’ premises.
It allows tax relief for money spent on refurbishing, or converting, residential or commercial properties in Special Regeneration Areas within the qualifying cities and towns. These include owner-occupier residential relief, rented residential relief and commercial relief.
In advance of the deadline date, the local authority must submit draft maps of Special Regeneration Areas for inclusion in the Living City Initiative scheme to the Department of Local Government.
While the deadline is imminent, the Town Mayor said work had been ongoing, in conjunction with the council's planning team, following the announcement that Athlone would be included in the scheme during Budget 2026.
"The council's Senior Executive Planner Cathaldus Hartin has been carrying out work in the background identifying eligible sites in Athlone which he feels will benefit from the scheme," Cllr McCormack said.
While the council executive may have views on what sites would be suitable for scheme inclusion, the Town Mayor said the input of elected members is vital for the future of the town's regeneration.
"Hopefully, as members, we can meet in committee in early January and suggest troublesome sites, both east and west of the River Shannon, that would benefit from what the Living City Initiative scheme has to offer. It must be a whole-of-town approach with the town's core at the heart of regeneration," Cllr McCormack added.
The Town Mayor said a "key piece" of the scheme is to ensure that vacant premises above retail units in the heart of the town are filled.
"We need to fill these vacant spaces and return a sense of vibrancy and energy to the core of the town," the Town Mayor stated.
A timeline for the Living City Initiative was confirmed by An Tánaiste Simon Harris in the Dáil last week, the Fine Gael leader saying the Government expected applications for the scheme "to be open by June at the latest".
Confirming the deadline date for Special Generation proposals from the local authority, Tánaiste Simon Harris said it was his intention to write "to the local authority and ask them to return their draft maps by the end of January".
"I would expect the mapping process to be completed by the end of quarter 1 2026, with applications to open by June at the latest," Deputy Harris said.
At the November meeting of Westmeath County Council the topic was raised by Cllr Frankie Keena who said that local councillors "should be involved in the preliminary stages of identifying areas for inclusion".
"There are a lot of long-term vacant properties and derelict properties throughout the town.
"Apart from offering tax incentives to property owners, this scheme will enhance the town and has generated huge interest," Cllr Keena said.
Local Government Minister Peter Burke also welcomed the announcement, acknowledging that the scheme "will benefit our communities in Athlone".
“Tackling dereliction and breathing new life into our cities and towns is a vital approach in terms of us unlocking homes and increasing housing supply.
“I will keep residents and businesses owners fully up to date with progress in rolling out this scheme in our county, which I believe will make a hugely positive difference to people’s lives," Minister Burke said.