22 October 2026
By Tom Collins
tom@TheCork.ie
Latest figures reveal over 500 vacant and derelict properties across Cork County Council brought back into use through the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant
File photo of dereliction
Over 500 previously vacant and derelict properties have been restored to residential use across Cork County Council through the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, marking a major milestone in efforts to tackle vacancy and dereliction in the county, Minister for State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Christopher O’Sullivan, TD has said today as he responded to the publication of his Department’s Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant statistics for Q3 2026.
In total, the scheme has now helped bring 547 vacant and derelict properties across Cork County Council back into use, backed by over €30.6 million in grant funding. Demand also remains strong in Cork County Council with 1,712 applications received and 1,345 approvals granted since the launch of the scheme in 2022.
In the third quarter of this year, the scheme maintained its strong performance supporting the refurbishment of 90 vacant and derelict homes between July and September with 83 grant approvals during the same period.
Commenting on the latest figures, Minister O’Sullivan said:
“Dereliction is a scourge that blights communities, undermines town and village centres, and removes much-needed homes from use, and it is something this Government will not tolerate.
“The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is delivering real results right across Cork County Council, with more than 500 homes now brought back into use through the scheme. That represents families, homebuyers and renters who now have access to homes that may otherwise have remained vacant, while also helping to revitalise communities.”
Nationally, the scheme has now helped bring 7,162 vacant and derelict properties back into use, backed by over €396 million in grant funding.