What's New

If you own a vacant dwelling or are thinking of buying a property to rent it out, there are government incentives available.

Schemes aimed at bringing vacant homes into use include:

Repair and Leasing Scheme – provides support with costs of repairs for vacant properties and leases the upgraded properties for social housing use.

Buy and Renew Scheme – supports local authorities in purchasing and renewing housing units in need of repair and makes them available for social housing use. 

Long Term Leasing Initiative – allows owners of vacant properties that are in good condition to lease their properties to local authorities. 

You can get more  information on these and other options from  the Vacant Homes Unit in the Department  of Housing or your local authority Vacant Homes Officer. You can also email  vhu@housing.gov.ie or call  (01) 8882000.

Online application for the Student Grant Scheme 2019/20 academic year opens from 25 April 2019.

The Student Grant Scheme is the main financial support scheme for third level students.

Undergraduate students can apply for maintenance grants and fee grants.  There is a separate application for postgraduate student grants.

The closing date for school transport applications for both primary and post-primary schools is Friday, 26 April, 2019.

If you are applying for the transport scheme for the first time, you can apply online on buseireann.ie.

If your child is eligible for school transport and is using it already, you do not need to apply again. Bus Éireann will contact you about transport for the next school year.

For enquiries about timetables, pick-up points, routes and applications for transport grants you should contact your local Bus Éireann school transport office.

You can read more on citizensinformation.ie about the primary school transport scheme and the post-primary school transport scheme.

The Property Registration Authority has set up a property alert service to let property owners monitor their registered properties for fraudulent activity. Property fraud could involve someone pretending to be you, and trying to sell or mortgage your property without you knowing.

If you sign up to the property alert service, you will get an email or text if someone lodges an application relating to your property with the PRA. If the activity is fraudulent you can take action if necessary. The property must be registered with the Land Registry but you do not have to be the owner of the property.

To find out more, visit prai.ie and to sign up for the service, visit landdirect.ie.

The Government has published practical advice to help businesses and citizens around the country prepare for Brexit on gov.ie.

This includes advice and information for businesses and individuals on Brexit and Business and Brexit and You.

@BrexitReadyIRL is the main Government Twitter account for Brexit news. You can also sign up for regular updates on Brexit at dfa.ie.

Information on what Brexit means for citizens is also available here on citizensinformation.ie including:

• What is Brexit?
• Brexit and you
• Brexit information and supports
• Brexit updates summarising Brexit-related updates across citizensinformation.ie

Social welfare rates are due to increase from this week. The payments and dates of change are set out in the table below. The relevant documents will be updated on citizensinformation.ie on the date the changes take effect.

You can read a summary of the changes on welfare.ie.

The Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government has launched a public consultation on proposals regarding modernisation of the electoral registration process.

Proposals for modernisation of the register include:

• Simplification of forms and process
• A rolling register or continuous registration
• Optional online registration and secure self-service
• Moving to individual registration only
• Enabling a single national register database with unique identifiers
• Moving to verified identity using PPS numbers
• Data sharing to maintain accuracy and comprehensiveness

You can visit housing.gov.ie to find out more and make a submission on the proposals. The deadline for submissions is Friday 15 March 2019.

The Government published the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019 (pdf) on 22 February 2019.

The legislation aims to prepare Ireland for a disorderly Brexit (also called a “no-deal Brexit”). The Bill is made up of 15 parts and crosses the remit of 9 Government ministers. It is expected that the Bill will be ready for commencement by 29 March 2019 and each part will be commenced by the individual minister at the appropriate time.

However, many of the provisions in the Bill will only be necessary if the UK leaves the EU on 29 March 2019 under a no-deal scenario.

You can read a summary of the Bill in the Explanatory Memorandum (pdf).