News

New regulations which would allow vacant and derelict pubs to be turned into homes without the requirement for planning permission will come before the Oireachtas at the beginning of next month. Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien has also said a new grant will be announced shortly for first-time buyers who buy a derelict property. A residential buildings report from geoDirectory published this week found that there are more than 100,000 vacant and derelict homes across the country. Assistant Professor in Social Policy at Maynooth University Rory Hearne said more needs to be done to tackle the issue of vacant and derelict properties.