Upcoming Housing related public Information Sessions

Housing

Upcoming Housing related public Information Sessions

There are various initiatives and funding available across numerous agencies to assist people with housing related issues such as bringing vacant homes back to use, adapting homes for people with mobility needs, improving homes for older people and improving the energy efficiency of homes. Donegal County Council is facilitating Information Sessions in each Municipal District over the next number of weeks, following a recent motion passed at Plenary Council. 

The purpose of the sessions is to allow members of the public to get information and advice on various funding and grant schemes, such as the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant Scheme, Housing Aid for Older People Grant, Housing Adaptation Grant for Disabled People, Mobility Aids Grant, Local Authority Home Loans, Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme and Septic Tank Grant Scheme.

Staff familiar with the above schemes will be in attendance along with and other key services to help with any questions related to these schemes and to share details about other supports available.

In addition to the above, local banks and credit unions have been invited to come along and share information on the financial supports they can provide. The North West Energy Agency will be present to discuss home energy upgrade options from the SEAI, and Facilitators from Donegal Local Development Company and Inishowen Development Partnership will be in attendance in respect of the Defective Concrete Block Grant Scheme.

The Council also encourages any local contractors who are working on any of the aforementioned schemes to call in to their local information session and to network with the various agencies present as well as members of the public.

The events will run from 4pm – 7pm and will include a presentation on the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant Scheme commencing from 4.30pm.  Please come along to any of the events below to find out about the supports available. Dates, times and venues are as follows: 

Cllr. Paul Canning, Cathaoirleach said that: 

‘The primary purpose of these information evenings is to assist the public with the provision of information on various housing related funding schemes, and the provision of advice and guidance on how to go about the application processes. There are a range of very positive initiatives, and it is important that we get the message out to people on the ground, who may not be aware of what is available.

The Council has held similar evenings before across the county, and the sessions in relation to the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant Scheme have been particularly informative and successful. This grant scheme has been instrumental in bringing vacant and derelict properties back into productive use and providing new homes.  Donegal County Council is delighted with the uptake of the Scheme, which is the highest in the Country, with 1423 applications received and grants of €20.0m paid out so far to refurbish 355 homes. The impact of the scheme cannot be overstated. Not only does it serve to get vacant properties back into productive use, but it is a key affordable housing mechanism to assist first time buyers to buy and renovate a property for use as their first home. I look forward to the continued uptake of the scheme. 

Similarly, there are grants available from the Council to adapt homes for people with a disability or mobility issues, as well as grants for older people to improve their homes and make them more comfortable and warmer. The value and impact of these grants on people’s lives cannot be underestimated. The Council has paid out on average over 600 such grants each year over the last few years, and in 2025 alone we expect to pay out over €5m in this regard.

The Information Sessions will also involve other advice and information from the North West Energy Agency, the local credit unions and banks, as well as the facilitators involved with the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme. Based on previous experience the sessions will be held from 4pm to 7pm which will enable people to call in on their way home from work or the school pick-up. I encourage anyone interested to attend.” 

Please come along and find out further information on the following supports 

• Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant Scheme
  Grants up to €84,000 available to refurbish vacant and derelict properties that have been vacant for two years or more and will be the owner’s principle private residence or made available to rent. 
• Find Me A Home in Donegal Scheme
  Matchmaking scheme to put owners of vacant properties in contact with those seeking to purchase vacant properties.
• Repair and Lease Scheme
  Financial support of €80,000 per unit available to bring vacant properties back into use to lease to Donegal County Council for social housing in areas where there is a need.
• Local Authority Purchase and Renovation Loan Scheme
  This is a Government backed mortgage and loan for the purchase and renovation of derelict and non-habitable homes. The property must be eligible for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, whether derelict, non-habitable or simply vacant. Under the Local Authority Purchase and Renovation Loan, a first-time buyer or Fresh Start applicant who wishes to purchase and/or renovate a Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant eligible home, but cannot get sufficient funding from commercial lenders are now able to apply to their local authority for a Local Authority Purchase and Renovation Loan. 
• Local Authority Home Loan Scheme
  A Local Authority Home Loan is a Government backed mortgage for first time buyers and fresh start applicants. It can be used to purchase a new or second-hand property or for self-build. A Local Authority Home Loan provides up to 90% of the market value of the property, subject to terms and conditions.
• The Housing Adaptation Grant for Disabled People Scheme
  This scheme provides grant aid to applicants to assist in the carrying out of works that are reasonably necessary for the purposes of rendering a house more suitable for the accommodation needs of a disabled person. The effective maximum grant under the scheme is €40,000, which may cover up to 100% of the approved cost of works, whichever is the lesser.
• Mobility Aids Grant Scheme
  The Mobility Aids Grant scheme provides grant aid to cover a basic suite of works to address mobility problems, primarily, but not exclusively, associated with ageing. The effective maximum grant under the Mobility Aids Housing Grant Scheme is €8,000, which may cover 100% of the cost of works.
• Housing Aid for Older People Grant Scheme
  This scheme is available to assist older people living in poor housing conditions to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out. The effective maximum grant under the scheme is €10,700, which may cover up to 100% of the approved cost of works.
• Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme
  This is a grant scheme to support affected homeowners to remediate their dwellings, where their dwelling has been damaged by the use of defective concrete blocks in its construction.
• SEAI Home Energy Supports
  Information on the available supports for homeowners, businesses & communities to achieve energy efficiency improvements.
• Septic Tank Grants
  This grant is available to assist with the costs of works for the remediation, repair, upgrade, or replacement of a domestic wastewater treatment system (DWWTS) serving a house. 

For further Information, please contact:
Donegal County Council, County House, Lifford, F93 Y622
Phone: 074 91 53900
Email: vacanthomes@donegalcoco.ie
Website: www.donegalcoco.ie 

To save this webpage as a PDF, select ‘Save as PDF’ from the Destination drop down and save.