Cork councils spend €40m to bring over 800 vacant properties back to use

Cork-based anti-dereliction campaigner Jude Sherry said a few tweaks to the process, such as staged payments, would improve the situation

According to the Central Statistics Office (CSO), there are more than 8,500 vacant homes across Cork City and county. File picture: iStock

Cork’s county and city councils have between them paid out more than €40m since 2022 to bring more than 800 vacant properties back to use, under the Government’s Croí Cónaithe scheme.

The Croí Cónaithe Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant Scheme was introduced by the Department of Housing in July 2022.