Questions over refusals of house renovation grant in Laois
Laois councillors have questioned the high rejection rate by Laois County Council to people applying for a new grant to renovate vacant and derelict houses.
The Croí Conaithe grant gives up to €30,000 to renovate older houses vacant for two years, and up to €50,000 for those proven to also be structurally derelict.
It was recently widened out from towns and villages to all parts of the rural countryside.
Laois County Council gave figures in November showing that three out of seven applications were refused by them.
Cllr PJ Kelly is among those asking why.
“It might discourage further applicants,” he said.
Cllr Conor Bergin stressed the work that people put in to apply.
"Anyone who puts in an application are genuine. In many cases they are for houses they bought or inherited. Anyone who goes to that effort, getting quotes, will be very disappointed. Is there an appeal? If an application was refused for the old scheme for towns, will it be reconsidered?" he asked.
Laois County Council Director of Services Angela McEvoy said 12 applications have now been received.
"We are starting to see a bit of movement on it," she said.
She said some were refused because they were in rural locations, a stipulation that no longer applies so those applicants can reapply under the widened criteria.
Others were refused because the renovation work had already been carried out she said, which is against the guidelines of the grant.
The Croí Conaithe grant explained.
The Croí Cónaithe Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is aimed to help bring vacant and derelict properties back into residential use and ensure the existing housing stock is used to the fullest extent possible. It will also help limit emissions from new residential construction.
Under the Croí Cónaithe Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant €30,000 is available to homebuyers to refurbish a home which they will live in. Where a property is proven derelict by an engineer, a maximum top-up grant amount of up to €20,000 will be available, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €50,000. The grants can also be combined with the SEAI Better Energy Home Scheme that covers works of up to €26,750.
It is available to any house which has been vacant for 2 years and built prior to 1993. Applicants must prove it was vacant, and supply costings for the renovations. Priority is given to first time buyers, fresh start applicants, and older people wanting to move back into more populated areas.
Application forms are available on council websites and advice can be sought from the council's Vacant Homes Officer.