Cavan County Council has made significant progress in combatting dereliction across the county, with over €187 million currently being invested in transforming vacant or derelict properties into social housing and community facilities.

Several recent housing developments have seen such properties demolished or renovated to make way for new, high-quality, energy-efficient social homes. In total, 113 homes have been delivered by Cavan County Council in the past 18 months.

A further 137 homes are under construction, while an additional 220 units are at various stages of planning and design. Approved housing bodies will deliver another 98 homes across Cavan in the next two years.  The local authority has also refurbished and returned 31 units in its own housing stock to use this year to date.

In addition, Cavan County Council has allocated over €10 million under the Croí Cónaithe Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, with 175 applications paid out – allowing homeowners to restore and occupy previously vacant and derelict homes. A further 314 properties have been approved in principle, with refurbishment work on the majority of these expected to be completed within the next 12 months.

Redevelopment projects are also being delivered across the county by Cavan County Council in a €62m investment through the Urban Regeneration Development Fund (URDF), the Rural Regeneration Development Fund (RRDF) and SEUPB’s PEACEPLUS programme supplemented by up to €12 million in Cavan County Council’s own funds.

Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, Cllr Carmel Brady recently visited some of the sites being transformed from dereliction to thriving community housing. “It is really heartening to look at some of these old, dilapidated, empty buildings knowing that they will soon be family homes, providing shelter, heat, and security to those who need it, and creating memories for generations to come,” noted Cllr Brady.

Eoin Doyle, Chief Executive of Cavan County Council, said the council developed a series of Town and Village Revitalisation Plans several years ago, with a view to re-energising the urban landscape of the county.

“In transforming derelict and vacant properties into not only social housing, but also critical community infrastructure, we are re-energising town cores across the county, providing a much-needed boost to local economies, and helping boost social and community cohesion, all the while creating jobs through engaging local contractors,” he added.