The Irish government has a plan to boost the population of more than two dozen remote islands in the Atlantic Ocean: Dangle grants of up to $92,000 to homebuyers willing to move there.
The islands include Inis Mór, part of which was filmed in the Oscar-nominated 2022 film The Banshees of Inisherin and one of the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland. Because of their rugged landscape and history, these islands are often a draw for tourists.
About 30 islands off the coast of Ireland have permanent residents all year round who are cut off from the daily tide and have no connection to the mainland by bridge or causeway, the Irish Government said when it published the plan earlier this month. Some of the islands have only two year-round residents, it said.
The population of these islands has declined over the last two decades and now fewer than 3,000 people live on them, according to the Irish Government’s new revitalization plan. Nonetheless, the islands are a major tourist destination, with more than 300,000 visitors a year.
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“A continuing concern of island communities at home and abroad is to maintain the population of their islands,” the plan reads. “Insular communities generally have an above-average age profile, with many young adults leaving the islands for further education or employment opportunities elsewhere.”
A path in Inisheer, one of the Aran Islands, surrounded by rocks and the sea in the sunlight in Ireland Getty Images/iStockphoto
The plan is reminiscent of Italy’s plan to sell houses in small towns for €1 to attract new residents. However, there are many stories from people who have bought a 1 euro house about the difficulties and high costs of the renovation.
Here’s what you need to know about Irish grants.
How much does Ireland offer?
Ireland is offering up to almost $92,000 (€84,000) for people renovating a “derelict building” on one of the islands. According to a government website, people who repair a vacant property can get up to $67,000 (€60,000) towards the renovation.
This is an extension of an earlier program, the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, which provided approximately $55,000 to people who were renovating vacant properties.
The government is now allocating more money to the islands as part of its 10-year plan to attract more people to resettle there. However, according to the government’s website, more generous funds are not yet available for renovation works on the islands.
Where are the islands?
They are on the west coast of Ireland in the Atlantic. They include:
- The Aran Islands: Inis Mór, Inis Meáin and Inis Oírr
- Inishbofin
- Inishtürk
- Clare Island
- Coney Island
- dursey
- Bere
- Toraigh is described as the best remote control of the inhabited islands of Ireland
How do I qualify for a grant?
According to the government, there are certain criteria for funding. Among them are:
- The property must have been vacant for at least two years and be built before 2008
- You must own the property or be in the process of buying it
- You must live in the house as your primary residence after the work is complete, or rent it out
- You can not be a registered company or developer
- Also, you must have paid your taxes and be in order
How do I apply for a grant?
You must fill out an application form and send it to your local city or county office for approval.
Among other things, you must provide evidence that you own the property and that it has been vacant for at least two years.
What can I use the grant for?
Funds must be used for demolition and renovation of a property, ranging from re-roofing and structural work to more cosmetic issues like repainting.
Can Americans buy property in Ireland?
Yes, because according to the government there are no residency requirements to buy property in Ireland.
However, buying property does not automatically give you the right to reside in Ireland, the Government has stated. That could complicate the plans of Americans who want to apply for the $92,000 Irish Isles Redevelopment Grant.
Americans can apply for a work permit, while those wishing to invest or set up a business in Ireland may also qualify for a residency permit.