582. Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Housing; Local Government and Heritage in view of the success of the vacant/derelict grants scheme in Donegal if he will consider a similar type of grant for above the shop units for housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63309/25]

The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, introduced in July 2022, provides a grant of up to €50,000 for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent. A top-up grant of up to €20,000 is available where the property is confirmed to be derelict, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €70,000.

The objective of the grant is to support the refurbishment of vacant and derelict properties, bringing them back into use as homes. In order to qualify for the grant, the property must be vacant for two years or more at the time of application.

The grant is currently available for the conversion of former commercial or public use buildings as well as "Above the Shop" type conversions.

The Governments new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025 – 2030 reinforces and expands the range of existing measures being implemented by Government to tackle the issue of vacancy and dereliction. The plan includes an action to provide further support under the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant for the refurbishment and conversion of above the shop vacant floors for use as homes and further details regarding the implementation of the new support scheme will be made available in the coming months.

In conjunction with the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, other supports and grants may be used to bring these properties in towns and villages into use.

The Conservation Advice Grant is designed to support owners of traditional buildings where the building is a protected structure or located in an architectural conservation area. Buildings previously used for commercial purposes qualify for the grant where the intended use is a dwelling over the shop.

Planning regulations, introduced in 2018, which exempted certain vacant commercial premises, including ‘over the shop’ type spaces, from requiring planning permission to change to residential purposes have been extended. The scope of the exemption was also extended to include ‘public houses’. The exemptions support the reuse of vacant commercial buildings as homes, increasing housing supply and regenerating communities.

Funding is also available under the Repair and Leasing Scheme which provides support for the refurbishment of vacant properties to be used for social housing. This scheme provides an interest free loan of up to €80,000, including VAT, for each individual unit completed in a formerly vacant property. For example, where a vacant former shop is converted into four apartments, a loan of up to €320,000 is available. The scheme is increasingly being used to convert vacant commercial properties into social housing units.