As someone who has witnessed the decay of many homes across Ireland, I am deeply concerned about our housing crisis and its economic impact on rural areas and towns. The sight of vacant properties falling into disrepair is not just a visual blight but a stark reminder of the missed opportunities to provide much-needed homes for families and individuals.

The current Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant provides funding up to €50,000 to renovate a vacant property and up to €70,000 if it's derelict. However, these grants are only given upon completion of the renovation works. This structure can be prohibitive for many potential renovators who lack initial funds needed to start refurbishments.

To address this issue, we urge the government to revise its grant payment structure by offering staged payments with an upfront starter payment. This change would enable more people to undertake necessary renovations that might otherwise be financially impossible.

By implementing this change, we could breathe life back into our deserted towns while addressing our housing crisis head-on. Let's turn these empty buildings into vibrant homes again!

Please sign this petition urging the government to implement staged payments for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant – let's make home renovation accessible for all!