Carlow people nab €280,000 to do up vacant house with others encouraged to apply

Carlow applicants have been awarded €280,000 in Vacant Property Refurbishment Grants since July, news figures have revealed.

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD, has announced the latest figures which show that €200.047 million has been disbursed through the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, successfully returning 3,672 previously vacant or derelict homes to active residential use across the country.

Significantly, Q3 2025 saw the highest-ever Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant payments, with 760 grants paid, representing a 126% increase compared to the same period last year. Since the scheme’s launch in July 2022, 11,059 applications have been approved, underlining the growing momentum of the scheme and its impact in tackling vacancy and boosting housing supply.

21 successful applications were granted in Carlow in the period from July to September, with just four actually paid out. These four payments totalled €280,000 on completion of works.

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Welcoming the numbers of homes returned from vacancy and dereliction, Minister for Housing, James Browne TD said:

"I want to be very clear. I consider vacant and derelict homes not only a blight on our village and town communities, but also that I see it as a form of anti-social behaviour. It is unacceptable in a housing crisis, and I will not be found wanting in tackling it. Consider this the warning shot - if you have properties left derelict, then I expect them to be dealt with as a matter of urgency.

“Disused properties not only represent missed opportunities to provide much-needed homes, but they also undermine the vibrancy and liveability of our town centres.

“It’s appalling to me personally and I know it is just galling for people who live near them - to see sites in services areas, where councils are tending to roads and nearby amenities.

“This is why in the recent budget, this Government expanded the Living City Initiative to support ‘over-the-shop’ conversions and introduced new Derelict Property Tax, to be administered by the Revenue Commissioners, to replace the current Derelict Sites Levy.

“Today’s figures clearly demonstrate that the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is playing a key role in tackling vacancy and dereliction with more and more homes coming back into residential use. This trend is reflected in recent CSO data, which shows the national vacancy rate fell from 3.6% in Q4 2022 to 3.3% in Q4 2023, based on electricity consumption.”

Since the introduction of the grant in July 2022 to September 2025, Donegal County Council and Cork County Council have received the highest number of applications with over 1,000 applications received The are followed closely by Dublin City Council who have received over 900 applications. Mayo and Tipperary County Councils are the next highest in terms of activity under the scheme.

A total of 14,910 applications have been received for the grant since it was launched in July 2022. Of those 11,059 applications have been approved. A total of €200,047,785 million has been paid out to 3,672 applicants.

A new video showcasing the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant has been launched. It follows the journey of one grant recipient, highlights the impact of the grant, and explains how to apply.

Access the latest Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant Q3 2025 statistics.

We also have an interactive story map developed by the Department illustrating the nationwide impact of the grant scheme, featuring local authority-level data on grants issued and showcasing ‘before and after’ images of completed refurbishments.