Waterford people share €3.5m in grants to do up vacant and derelict houses

Over €3 million in refurbishment grants has returned 65 vacant and derelict homes to active use in Waterford.

The latest figures which show that nationally over €200 million has been disbursed through the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, returning 3,672 previously vacant or derelict homes to active residential use across the country.

The figures also show that in Waterford, €3.47m has been paid out which has brought 65 disused homes into use. In total, since the grant was launched in July 2022 up to 30 September 2025, there have been 359 applications from Waterford homeowners with 214 approvals.

Throughout the country, 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.

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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.

“These 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.”