Over €6.7 million has been paid out in Vacant Property Refurbishment Grants to bring homes in Kerry back into use since its induction.
That’s according to figures from the Department of Housing, which show more than €246 million has been paid out under the scheme nationally since it was launched in 2022.
Over 120 vacant homes in Kerry have been brought back into use over this period.
Kerry Fine Gael Senator Mike Kennelly, and Fianna Fáil TD Michael Cahill have welcomed the figures.
The vacant property refurbishment grant was introduced in the summer of 2022, in an effort to incentivise people to renovate existing vacant properties to increase housing supply.
A grant of €50,000 is available to turn a vacant property into a permanent home or rental property, and an additional €20,000 is available if the property is also derelict.
The grants are paid out after the works are completed.
Figures from the Department of Housing show since the scheme was launched, over €6.7 million (€6,705,120) has been paid to bring 121 houses in Kerry back into residential use from vacancy.
Since its induction Kerry County Council has received 675 applications, with 441 approvals and 80 rejections up to December 31st 2025.
In the fourth quarter of 2025 over €1.1 million (€1,126,870) in grants were paid out in the county on the completion of 20 homes.
The report shows during this period the council received 22 applications for the scheme, 39 were approved – this includes applications received in the previous quarter - while no application was rejected.
