Donal Hickey: Expand grant schemes to beat rural decline

Even if it means doubling the vacant/derelict homes grants and offering other incentives, something needs to be done urgently to tackle ongoing decline in the west and south

Nationwide, there are thousands of vacant, or derelict homes and buildings which could be brought back into use. Picture: iStock

There’s a danger that the debate surrounding the easing of planning restrictions on one-off housing in rural areas could distract attention from other aspects of this critical issue.

You have, for instance, thousands of vacant, or derelict, homes which could be brought back into use, something I have personal experience of.