Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant of €2.9M sees 58 Westmeath homes restored
Of the 260 applications under the scheme 183 have been approvals so far in Westmeath
A government scheme to restore derelict buildings has attracted 260 Westmeath applications, 183 approvals and 58 grant since launched in July 2022.
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, today published figures showing over €112 million has been paid out to Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant applicants, bringing more than 2,000 homes back into residential use from vacancy nationwide.
Nationally more than 12,400 applications for the grant have been received from across Ireland by the end of March this year.
A new interactive story map developed by Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne’s Department has also been launched with the statistics. The map shows the far reaching impact of the grant scheme across the country since its launch. Information includes the number of grants issued per local authority since the scheme’s launch.
The number of grants being paid out continues to rise significantly each quarter, as works on properties are completed. Eight grants were issued in Westmeath Q1 2025 on completion of works, according to the new figures.
Overall, since the launch of the grant in July 2022, in Westmeath there have been 260 applications, 183 approvals and 58 grants issued up to 31 March 2025.
Welcoming the numbers of homes returned from vacancy, Minister for Housing James Browne TD, said: “The momentum of this grant continues to build, with another significant increase in grants being paid on completion of works as more vacant and derelict properties are brought back into use as homes for people across County Westmeath.
“The grant is making a significant and important contribution to cities, towns, villages and rural areas, supporting people to bring these vacant and derelict properties back into use as homes and in tandem with that - helping to revitalise communities.”
The payment of grants is expected to continue at pace throughout the year as more refurbishment works reach completion.