Tipperary TD Martin Browne says that zero refurbishment grants have been issued to date in county Tipperary.
The Vacant Home Refurbishment Grant Scheme opened last year – to date 121 applications have been made in Tipperary and 71 have been approved but no funds have been drawn down for a variety of reasons. Nationally just 4 grants have been drawn down.
Deputy Browne is asking the Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien to intervene and provide greater resources and clarity for Councils to administer the scheme and to also ensure that financial institutions are as he puts it “up to speed with the scheme.”
Deputy Brown says “Prospective buyers are taking on a big enough risk purchasing and renovating a derelict or vacant home without having to deal with a badly designed funding support scheme.”
