Concerns over Croí Conaithe scheme

A Belmullet councillor has appealed for Mayo County Council to provide assistance to applicants for the Croí Conaithe vacant property refurbishment grant, saying that the information requested is too complicated, the €50,000 grant is not enough and the ten-year clause of not being allowed to dispose of the property is excessive.

Fine Gael Cllr Gerry Coyle told the February meeting of the local authority that he knew somebody who was going to try and get the grant, but abandoned it after reading the terms and conditions.

"Even the €50,000 grant on offer, he said he could get a loan for the same amount himself and sell the property any time but under this scheme, you can’t sell for 10 years. That seems too long to have to keep the property. He would have no problem renting it out long-term but said it is too restrictive for the amount of grant money he would get, and with all the conditions on it also. He has it converted now himself anyway.”

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.