Vacant Homes, Living Communities – latest data
New figures published by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage show that more than 3,000 vacant or derelict homes were brought back into use in 2025 through the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant. This represents a significant acceleration in delivery and provides clear evidence that targeted reuse of existing buildings is playing a meaningful role in addressing housing need while supporting the revival of regional and rural Ireland.
In 2025 alone, 3,066 grants were paid following completion of works, more than double the number recorded in 2024. Since the scheme was launched in July 2022, over 4,500 previously vacant or derelict properties have been returned to active use, with almost €247 million paid out to date. These are not abstract figures. Each completed project represents a home reoccupied, a street reanimated, and a community strengthened.
The geographic spread of applications and completions highlights the particular importance of the scheme beyond the main urban centres. Donegal County Council recorded the highest number of applications, approvals and completed grants, followed closely by Cork County Council and Dublin City Council. Many other counties with persistent vacancy challenges, including Mayo, Tipperary, Kerry, Galway and Roscommon, are also seeing substantial uptake. This reflects both the scale of latent housing stock across rural Ireland and the willingness of individuals and families to invest in bringing older buildings back into use when viable supports are in place.
From a placemaking perspective, the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant does more than deliver housing units. It supports population retention in villages and small towns, sustains local schools and services, and makes better use of existing infrastructure. Reusing vacant homes reduces development pressure on greenfield sites, supports climate objectives through reuse of the existing built fabric, and helps maintain the character and continuity of established places.
Under the scheme, grants of up to €70,000 are available to refurbish a vacant or derelict house or former commercial building for use as a principal private residence or a rental property. An enhanced support package of up to €140,000 for converting vacant over-the-shop spaces into homes has been announced and is expected to become available later in 2026. Grants are paid on completion of works, subject to inspection and the submission of the required documentation.
While the progress to date is substantial, delivery data also points to the complexity of the process. Applicants must navigate property acquisition, technical assessments, contractor availability, staged funding, and local authority administration. These practical realities shape how effective the scheme is on the ground and who is ultimately able to benefit from it.
For regional and rural Ireland in particular, understanding these lived experiences is critical. Vacant homes exist in every county, but barriers such as property title issues, construction costs, access to finance, and administrative delays can limit uptake. Learning from those who have attempted to purchase a vacant property, apply for the grant, or carry out the works is essential if the scheme is to continue to evolve and deliver at scale.
If you have experience of trying to buy a vacant or derelict property, applying for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, or completing refurbishment works, we would like to hear from you. Your insights can help inform better policy, more effective delivery, and stronger outcomes for communities seeking to grow and sustain themselves through reuse of existing homes.
Place Engage is a dynamic public consultation tool for fully-immersive, digital placemaking and meaningful stakeholder engagement. As a recognised friend of the New European Bauhaus movement, the Place Engage team are founding members of the Public Consultation Institute of Ireland and are currently contributing to an international, multidisciplinary body of work aimed at establishing best practice in integrated on and offline public consultation for both the private and public sectors in Europe: https://placeengage.com/