Hardware sector welcomes expansion of vacant homes grant

Hardware Association Ireland has today (Wednesday 16^th November) welcomed Minister Darragh O’Brien’s announcement yesterday (Tuesday 15^th November) that the Department of Housing will be extending grants for refurbishing vacant and derelict homes to the entire country.

The Croí Cónaithe Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant has been expanded to cities and rural areas, where previously it was only available in towns and villages. The grant will now cover the entire country.

The funds available under the scheme are €30,000 for vacant properties and €50,000 for derelict properties.

Commenting on this, Hardware Association Ireland Chief Executive Martin Markey said; ‘’This is a really welcome announcement from Minister Darragh O’Brien and his Department. It will help bring many empty homes around Ireland back into use, going a long way to easing the pressure on the housing market. These are measures that Hardware Association Ireland called for this year in our action plan to tackle the empty homes problem. We are very pleased that the Minister is acting on this today.’’

Martin went on to say; ‘’We want to provide incentives for people to bring empty homes back into use and make keeping unused homes financially difficult. We have a vacancy rate of 8% in a housing crisis, and our cities and towns are being destroyed by row upon row of empty homes, so we hope the Government take on board more of our proposals. Renovating empty homes has the added benefit of affordability and they have much lower carbon emissions than building a new home. There are fewer planning complications and it can be done a lot quicker than new builds also. We have a huge stock of empty homes just waiting to be renovated, so it is a huge opportunity that we can unlock.’’

Hardware Association Ireland is the representative body for Irish hardware and DIY retailers, builders’ merchants, distributers and manufacturers. It represents over 400 members nationwide and 26,000 staff in the sector.

Ends.

Please note: Martin Markey is available for interview.

For more information please contact:

Rory Sweeney                                                            Paul Allen

Paul Allen & Associates                                          Paul Allen & Associates

18 Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin 2                              18 Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin 2

01 676 9575 / 086 897 6442                                  01 676 9575 / 087 257 5700