The Irish government has a plan to boost the population of more than two dozen remote islands in the Atlantic Ocean – dangling grants of up to $92,000 to homebuyers willing to move there.
The islands include Inis Mór, where the 2022 Oscar-nominated film “The Banshees of Inisherin” was partially filmed and which is one of the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland. These islands are often a tourist attraction for their rugged landscapes and history.
About 30 islands off Ireland’s coast have year-round permanent residents who are cut off daily by the 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 as few as two year-round residents, he added.
Over the past two decades, the population of these islands has dwindled, with fewer than 3,000 people spread across them, according to the Irish government’s new revitalization. plan. Even so, the islands are an important tourist attraction, with more than 300,000 visitors annually.
“A constant concern of island communities both nationally and internationally is to maintain the population levels of their islands,” the plan notes. “Island communities generally have an above-average age profile, with many young adults leaving the islands to pursue education or employment opportunities elsewhere.”
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The plan is reminiscent of Italy’s plan sell houses in small towns for 1 euro as a way to attract new residents. However, there are many stories of people who bought a house for 1 euro on the difficulties and high renewal costs.
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) to people who renovate an “abandoned building” on one of the islands. People who fix up an empty property can receive up to almost $67,000 (€60,000) per renovation, according to a government web site.
It’s an expansion of a previous program, the Vacant Renovation Grant, which offered about $55,000 to people renovating vacant properties.
The government is now providing more money for the islands as part of its ten-year plan to attract more people to move there. However, more generous funding for people renovating on the islands is not yet available, according to the government’s website.
Where are the islands?
They are located on the west coast of Ireland in the Atlantic Ocean. They include:
Aran Islands: Inis Mór, Inis Meáin and Inis OírrInishbofin
Inishturk
Clare Island
Coney Island
Dursey
Seve
Toraigh, described as the most remote of the inhabited islands of Ireland
How can I qualify for financing?
There are specific criteria for obtaining the funding, according to the government. Among them are:
The property must have been vacant for at least two years and built before 2008. You must own the property or be in the process of buying it. You must live in the property as your main private residence when the work is completed, or rent it out. cannot be a registered company or developer. You must also have paid your taxes and have your taxes in order
How do I apply for funding?
You must fill out a application form and send it to your local council or county council for approval.
You will need to prove that you own the property, as well as that it was vacant for at least two years, among other things.
What can I use the funding for?
Funding is to be used for demolition and renovation work on a property, ranging from replacing roofs and structural work to more aesthetic matters such as repainting.
Can Americans buy property in Ireland?
Yes, because there are no residency requirements to buy property in Ireland, seconds to the government
However, buying a property does not automatically give you the right to reside in Ireland, the government noted. That could complicate plans for Americans interested in applying for the $92,000 renewal grant for the Irish islands.
Americans can apply for work permits, while those looking to invest in Ireland or start a business they may also qualify for residency.
