'Vacant Above the Shop Grant' expanded in Waterford
Dealz, Michael Street.
The Vacant Property Grant, which is aimed at tackling above shop vacancy, has been expanded, says Fine Gael TD John Cummins.
Under new measures which were signed off by Cabinet today, this extended grant aims to bring under-utilised space above existing commercial premises into use as homes.
The Vacant Above the Shop Grant will provide potential funding of up to €135,000 to convert vacant space into residential use, where the commercial element is remaining.
The grant will be available for buildings in cities, towns and villages with vacant ‘above the shop’ spaces that have been vacant for two years, subject to the ground floor remaining in commercial use.
It will not be a requirement that the commercial ground floor of the premises be vacant.
A grant of up to €95,000 will be available where one unit is created, up to €115,000 where two units are created and up to €135,000 will be available where three or more residential units are created ‘above the shop’.
Minister Cummins said that: “The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant has been very successful, with over 16,000 applications received, over 12,000 applications approved and 4,500 grants paid as of December 2025. €250m has been provided since its launch in July 2022 and this expansion will help continue the momentum that has helped to counter dereliction and vacancy. This is an area I am very passionate about, and it is important that we can continue to make every effort possible to bring properties of this kind back into use.”
For many of us, the idea of converting a space into a home is daunting.
An Expert Advice Grant has also been established, with funding of up to €5,000 available towards professional advice on conversion of above the shop space and of former commercial properties to residential units.
According to Minister Cummins, 79 vacant properties were brought back into use in Waterford in 2025 with €4.2m paid out to homeowners in Waterford since the launch of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant.
He said: “There is a strong pipeline in Waterford with over 220 grants approved to bring disused properties back to life. As the scheme is expanded and more and more applications are approved, I anticipate that we will see continued improvement across our streetscapes.”
Minister Cummins said that at a recent meeting with senior management at Waterford City and County Council they committed to making the process of applying for this grant more streamlined.
