Concerns raised over 'lengthy' delays in payment of vacant property grants

Concerns have been raised about ‘lengthy delays’ for applicants receiving grants under the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant Scheme.

The issue was raised at the September meeting of Roscommon Municipal District by Independent councillor Michael Holland.

Cllr Holland said it was unfair for people to have to experience lengthy delays in receiving their payment.

He explained that while the contractor was paid up front for the work, some people have to take out bridging loans – “it’s like a second mortgage” - before they receive their payment.

Apart from the waiting time for an engineer to sign it off along with the completion of legal work, the councillor said that it could take another eight to 12 weeks before the grant is paid out by the council’s payment section.

Fianna Fáil councillor Paschal Fitzmaurice wondered if the delay was with the Department or the council.

Pointing out that it can take up to ten months in some other local authorities for payments to be issued, director of services Chris Flynn said that “eight to twelve weeks is really good”.

Responding directly to concerns about delays, Mr Flynn said it would be best for him to review the process “from end to end”.

“I’ll gather all the information, assess how the process is working, and determine whether it is taking longer than it should.”

He said thereare currently 500 grant applications before the council, being handled by what he described as “a very small team”.

“That’s not an excuse or taking away from the issue,” he said.

The director of services told the meeting that sometimes the hardest part was to get everything sent in “completely”, including receipts.

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.