Almost 2,900 vacant and derelict homes have been brought back into use after over €155.2 million in grant funding was utilised, according to figures published by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD.

The funds were paid out to Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant applicants, bringing 2,856 homes back into residential use from vacancy nationwide.

Since the scheme began, almost 10,000 applications for the grant have been approved across Ireland by the end of June this year.

Donegal Council has the highest number of applications received (by the end of June this year), with 1,247, of which 922 have been approved and 226 paid out. Meanwhile, Cork County Council has the second highest received – 1,164 applications, 904 approvals and the highest number of grants paid out 213. Mayo County Council is in third place with 818 applications received and 128 grants paid out on completion of works.

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Welcoming the numbers of homes returned from vacancy, Minister for Housing James Browne TD said: "I am pleased at the serious impact the vacant property refurbishment grant delivers. The good work shown by this grant continues to grow, with the increase in payments reflecting the fact that more vacant and derelict properties are being brought back into use across the country. I take a very firm, indeed grim view of any properties left to lie vacant at this point in time."

There is a time lag between being awarded a grant and receiving it as grants are paid out on completion of work and the provision of necessary paperwork. The number of grants being paid out continues to rise significantly each quarter, as works on properties are completed. More than 700 grants were paid in Q2 2025 on completion of works, according to the new figures.

This represents a significant increase on the same period last year when 226 grants were paid out in Quarter 2 of 2024.

A total of 13,737 applications have been received for the grant since it was launched in July 2022 and of those, 9,979 applications have been approved.

'Before and after' images of some of the refurbishment works already carried out by grant recipients under the scheme are available to view here.