Another 21 vacant and derelict houses in County Monaghan were finished and paid out under the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant between July and September 2026, according to statistics published by the Department of Housing on Monday 19 October. That brings the county to 196 homes back in use and €12.22 million in grants paid since the scheme started in 2022.
The grant, funded through the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund and run locally by Monaghan County Council's Town Regeneration Office, pays up to €50,000 to refurbish a vacant house and up to €70,000 where the property is derelict.
The Monaghan figures for July to September
The Department's Q3 2026 report gives this breakdown for Monaghan County Council in the three months to 30 September:
- 21 new applications received
- 30 applications approved (some were lodged in earlier quarters)
- 0 applications rejected
- 21 grants paid on completion of works, worth €1,306,449
That works out at an average of a little over €62,000 per finished home, close to the top rate for a derelict house.
The running total since 2022
Since the scheme opened, the Department's figures for Monaghan to 30 September show 532 applications received, 431 approved and 11 rejected. In all, 196 grants have been paid on completion, worth €12,223,989. With 431 approvals and 196 payments, more than 200 approved Monaghan projects have yet to reach the payment stage.
Neighbouring Cavan has had more applications (633) and more completed homes (211), but a slightly smaller total paid out, at €11.95 million. Louth has 189 completed homes and €10.63 million paid.
Nationally, 7,162 homes have been brought back into use with €396.7 million in grants, and 809 of those were completed in the third quarter alone. Donegal leads the country with 600 homes, followed by Dublin City with 554 and Cork County with 547.
Above the Shop and Expert Advice grants
The newer Vacant Above the Shop Grant, aimed at turning empty upstairs space in town-centre buildings into homes, is still slow to take off in Monaghan. The county has had 3 applications since it launched earlier this year, one of which has been approved, and nothing has been paid yet. Nationally there have been 78 applications.
The €5,000 Expert Advice Grant, which helps owners check whether a larger commercial or public building can be converted into several homes, has had 5 applications from Monaghan, with 4 approved and 1 rejected. That is level with Kilkenny and Wexford for the most in the country.
How the numbers compare with the Council's
In September, Monaghan County Council told Northern Sound it had received 555 applications, approved 400 and refused 61, with almost €26 million approved and almost €11.3 million paid out. Those figures don't match the Department's exactly, and the Department notes that its own data is subject to change as applications are reviewed and processed.
Minister for Housing James Browne said dereliction "blights communities" and said the scheme is "delivering real results right across the country".
How to apply in Monaghan
To qualify, a property must have been vacant for two years or more and built before 2008. It can become the owner's own home or be let out long term. Applications go to the Vacant Homes Officer, Town Regeneration Office, Monaghan County Council, Mtek 1 Building, Armagh Road, Knockaconny, Monaghan (H18 HC96), or by email to [email protected]. The office can be reached on 047 61702.
For more on derelict buildings in the county, see our report on the half-built Clós na Dromainne apartments in Carrickmacross and how quickly empty council homes in Monaghan are re-let.
