Laois council gets cash to buy vacant property for community use

Laois County County council is getting €500,000 to buy three properties to convert into community use, under a new funding designed to tackle vacancy and dereliction in Rural Ireland.

The Department of Rural and Community Development says each local authority can apply for funding of up to €500,000, which can be used to buy up to three properties to re-develop into multi-purpose community facilities.

The Department says funding previously announced under the Details of the 2023 Building Acquisition Measure scheme saw old banks, court houses, garda stations and FCA halls all purchased and re-purposed for "21st century use".

The Department confirmed to the Leinster Express that officials at County Hall in Portlaoise applied to buy a building in 2022 but the sale did not materialise to issues 'beyond the council's control'. 

In opening the call for applications, Minister Heather Humphreys encouraged councils to work with communities in pinpointing buildings that are suffering from vacancy and dereliction.

“There has never been as many opportunities for local community groups to access funding for rural and community development projects. 

“I am anxious to make this funding as accessible as possible, and with this in mind I am now publishing the details of when the main capital investment schemes will be open for applications in 2023. 

“This will help community groups and local authorities to see what funding is available and when, and will assist them in the planning of their applications,” he said.

The closing date for applications under the Building Acquisition Measure must be submitted by April 28. This Measure is strictly only available for application and drawdown in 2023. No commitments will be carried forward into 2024.

The Local Authority must be able to confirm that the purchase of the building will be completed and all relevant draw down
information will be submitted to the Department by October 9.

The Department said the funding is part of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, "is designed to make towns and villages more attractive places in which to live, visit, invest and raise a family".

Laois Offaly Minister of State Pippa Hackett welcomed the money which she sad her party is central to.

"It is Green Party policy to tackle vacancy and dereliction in our towns for both social and environmental reasons.  The Greens are standing up for rural Ireland - all around the Midlands I see wonderful, Government funded, projects based on Green policies. Today’s announcement is yet another boost to our town centres and I would encourage people to contact either myself or their County Council if they have a building or a project in mind,” she said.

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Full details of the scheme are available on www.gov.ie