Vacant homes fund delay ‘costs people money’

Delays in issuing grant approvals for the Vacant Homes Scheme are costing people money, with one applicant from Castlebar already having to pay nearly €2,000 in interest fees to the bank as they await delivery of the funds. 

The issue was raised by outgoing Cathaoirleach of Castlebar Municipal District Cllr Donna Sheridan at last week's monthly municipal meeting when she told colleagues: “Applicants to this scheme are having to wait months and months for the money to come through. I know one couple waiting four months for even an inspection to take place and another person who is waiting 16 weeks for payment of the grant. In the meantime, they are paying interest of 7% on a €70,000 loan, which will be up on €2,000 soon.” 

Cllr Sheridan said she had contacted Mayo Co Council's Director of Services for Housing Tom Gilligan on the matter but that the only response from the council was a letter to applicants stating it could not offer any time-frame for when their payment will come through. She said the letter from central housing in Swinford also stated that applicants would need to wait another six to eight weeks as council staff were trying to work through a backlog under restrained resources. The letter ended with the line: “We appreciate your patience." 

Cllr Sheridan commented: “And that’s their response and where we are with Vacant Homes applications after 14 weeks. I have to say this is very worrying and very disappointing for people. How can you expect people to deal with the Vacant Homes situation if they are applying for the scheme but then nothing is being done in 14 weeks? This is not acceptable and is beyond a joke.” 

Cllr Cyril Burke said inspections were also not taking place in relation to the Repair and Lease Scheme, adding that he knows of people waiting for 10 to 12 weeks for inspections to occur. He asked whether there was a statutory period in which inspections of properties must take place under the schemes. 

Cllr Michael Kilcoyne said what was going on showed that “housing is not a priority for this council”. 

Cllr Cyril Burke suggested: “In fairness to the Housing Minister, he has written to all local authorities saying housing is the number one priority”, to which Cllr Kilcoyne remarked: “Well, he needs to write again and say he will get rid of them all if they don’t make it a priority.”