€8,889,180 in Vacant Property Grants awarded in Cavan and Monaghan, with 602 applications approved to turn Derelict Building into new homes
Deputy Brendan Smith, Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan-Monaghan, has stated that “todays Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant Figures are “proof that the grant is breathing life back into vacant and derelict buildings and turning them into homes. It’s a smart lever that’s quietly adding real housing supply across Ireland.”
New figures from the Department of Housing show that Cavan and Monsghan received 793 applications for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant in the first half of the year with 602 approved and €8,889,180 worth of grants paid out after works were completed. Nationally, over €155.2 million has been issued to date, bringing 2,856 vacant homes back into use. Since the scheme began, nearly 10,000 applications have been approved across the country.
Speaking on the statistics Deputy Smith said, “This grant shows Fianna Fáil’s and Minister Browne’s strategic approach to housing is hitting two birds with one stone by breathing life back into towns and villages while boosting housing supply. One scheme, double the impact.
“Tackling the housing crisis means using every tool available. Creative schemes like this help us unlock new supply across the country. Increasing supply is the solution, and that’s exactly what we’re doing.”
The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant offers up to €50,000, or up to €70,000 for derelict properties, to help renovate vacant homes for private use or rental. Funded by the Department of Housing through the Croí Cónaithe scheme, it’s available through your local authority.
Deputy Smith added: “We need to double down on what’s working and keep every option on the table. In just the first half of this year, we’ve introduced a wave of new legislation aimed at unlocking even more housing supply.”
“Every home brought back into use adds to the supply. That’s the focus, increasing housing supply, step by step, house by house.”
Brendan Smith TD has received confirmation this week that Cuan, the national Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency, is actively in the process of identifying sites in the Cavan/Monaghan region for the development of a new 8-unit domestic violence refuge.
In response to a Parliamentary Question from Deputy Smith, Dr. Stephanie O’Keeffe, CEO of Cuan, confirmed that the Agency is actively working with Safe Ireland, Cavan and Monaghan County Councils, and the Department of Housing to advance the refuge project.
“I am pleased to hear that sites are now being identified for this much-needed refuge in Cavan-Monaghan. After years of highlighting the urgent need for a dedicated domestic violence refuge in our area, it’s encouraging to finally see the project making progress.
“Access to safe accommodation and support services is absolutely essential, especially for individuals and families in rural communities like ours. This facility is urgently needed in the Cavan-Monaghan area. Right now, neither county has a dedicated centre for victims of domestic abuse, and those affected have been waiting far too long for this vital support.
Site visits have been conducted with key stakeholders including Safe Ireland, the lead Approved Housing Body, both County Councils, the Department of Housing, and the Housing Agency to assess potential locations. Additionally, Safe Ireland’s Cavan-Monaghan branch has received extra resources to expand emergency refuge and Safe Home accommodation services.
“I will continue to work closely with the Minister, Cuan, and all parties involved in this project to ensure the refuge is delivered as quickly as possible.”
Currently, nearly three-quarters of Ireland’s population can reach a refuge within 30 minutes. Cuan’s Corporate Plan 2025 to 2027 commits to further expanding this access, with a strong focus on rural and underserved areas such as Cavan-Monaghan.
Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan-Monaghan, Brendan Smith, has called on the Minister for Agriculture to engage with his EU counterparts to ensure robust and sustained funding for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in the next EU budget, stressing that the future of family farming and rural communities in Cavan-Monaghan and beyond depends on a well-funded CAP.
Deputy Smith made these remarks following a Parliamentary Question he raised in the Dáil, where he asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for a detailed update on ongoing engagement with the European Union regarding negotiations for the next CAP funding period.
In response, the Minister confirmed he is actively engaged with EU institutions and fellow Agriculture Ministers to influence the next CAP. He highlighted the importance of a well-funded CAP for farm incomes, food security, and rural development, and noted that Ireland will play a key role in upcoming negotiations, particularly during its EU Presidency in 2026.
Welcoming the Minister’s actions Deputy Smith went on to state, “For over fifty years, CAP has been central to Irish farming. It has helped farmers make a living, kept food on our tables, and supported rural life across the country. As the EU prepares its next budget, we need to make sure that support is not only protected but strengthened to meet the challenges farmers face now and into the future.
Ireland’s current CAP Strategic Plan (2023–2027) is backed by €9.8 billion in EU and national funding for income supports, agri-environmental schemes, and rural development. Deputy Smith said the next phase of CAP must go further.
“Farmers are dealing with rising costs, climate demands and the challenge of bringing in the next generation. A strong CAP is vital, not just for producing food but for supporting climate action, protecting biodiversity and keeping rural communities alive. That means real investment,” Deputy Smith said.
Concluding Deputy Smith stated, “Farmers need certainty for the future. Without proper CAP funding we risk damaging the entire agri-food sector and hollowing out rural Ireland. Food security must also be an important consideration for all of the European Union.”
Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan- Monaghan, Brendan Smith, has welcomed confirmation from the Minister for Social Protection that over 126,000 families nationwide will receive over €47.5 million from the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance from today. Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary TD, has announced that over 126,000 families will receive the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance
The payment from the Department of Social Protection is designed to support eligible families with the cost of school uniforms and footwear ahead of the upcoming school term.
The rates of payment for the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance are €160 for children aged 4 to 11, and €285 for children aged 12 years and over in second level education.
Speaking Deputy Smith, “I am acutely aware of the financial struggles families are currently facing, particularly in the months where children are getting ready to begin a new school year. The funding made available in targeted schemes like this are essential for ensuring families who need support get it.
“This scheme will help alleviate some of the stress parents face, meaning they don’t have to worry about where the money will come from to pay for new school uniforms at the start of each year.
Overall, payments totalling more than €47.5 million will be made this week to over 126,000 families, in respect of over 221,000 children. A notification of the automated payment is sent to families by post or through their MyWelfare account.
The Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance is also open for applications until 30 September and eligible families are being encouraged to apply. Decisions on these cases will be processed manually and if entitled payment will issue once they are processed.
Concluding Deputy Smith stated, “I along with my Fianna Fáil colleagues in Government will support further targeted and sustainable measures in the upcoming Budget that focus on bringing down the high cost of living for families, particularly in the ongoing worrying global economic context.”
Brendan Smith TD has received confirmation from the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment that an appeals process will shortly open for businesses in the retail, hospitality, and beauty sectors who were previously deemed ineligible for the Increased Cost of Business (ICOB) or Power Up grants.
Deputy Brendan Smith welcomed the update, stating: “Many small businesses, particularly in sectors like hospitality and beauty, have been under serious pressure in recent months.
“These grants were meant to provide urgent support, so it’s only fair that businesses wrongly left out now get a proper chance to access them. The appeals process needs to be clear, straightforward, and put in place without any further delay.”
Deputy Smith has for some time raised the matter directly with the Minister via Parliamentary Questions, seeking clarity on when outstanding payments under the 2024 schemes would be issued.
In his reply, the Minister confirmed that this is not a re-opening of the original grant schemes, but a targeted appeals mechanism to allow businesses that were wrongly classified to access the supports for which they were intended.
Deputy Smith concluded: “This is an urgent issue for many small businesses. I will continue to follow up with the Minister and his Department for as long as it takes to make sure this appeals process is delivered quickly and fairly.”
Eligible businesses will be invited to register for the grants in the same way as the original ICOB process. Once applications are reviewed and verified by Local Authorities, payments are expected to issue promptly.
Further updates on the process will be provided by the Department and Local Authorities as implementation begins in the coming weeks.
For Written Answer on: 02/07/2025 Question Number(s): 167 Question Reference(s): 36568/25 Department: Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Asked by: Brendan Smith T.D.
QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will give detailed consideration to the issues raised in correspondence from a national association; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
REPLY
Reform of the firearms licensing system has been under consideration for a number of years, and extensive consultation has been undertaken. My Department holds meetings with individual firearms organisations on request and engages with various firearms stakeholders in other ways, while An Garda Síochána also meets with stakeholder organisations in respect of relevant matters.
Earlier this year, my Department organised a series of engagements with firearms stakeholders, and in February, three national fora were held with the Registered Firearms Dealers in Wicklow, Limerick, and Carrick-on-Shannon. A further two fora were held with firearms owners in Mullingar on 19 June 2025. My officials have also met with various firearms organisations, including the National Association of Regional Game Councils (NARGC).
The objective of these fora and meetings is to provide a mechanism for ongoing engagement with firearms stakeholders, and I can assure the Deputy that it is my intention, with Minister of State Collins, to further engage with relevant stakeholders in relation to any potential changes to policy or legislation in this area.
I am informed that the concerns raised in the referenced correspondence were acknowledged and discussed at the recent fora. My officials are working with An Garda Síochána to address the issues raised.
Major Increase to Carer’s Allowance Income Limits Will Benefit Families across Cavan and Monaghan from Thursday, July 3rd
“Carers are the backbone of our communities, providing vital and often unseen support to our loved ones, friends, and neighbours. Their tireless dedication deserves more than just words; it requires real, practical action,” said Brendan Smith, TD for Cavan-Monaghan.
From Thursday, July 3rd, Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary will implement an increase to the income disregard for the Carer’s Allowance. The weekly disregard will rise from €450 to €625 for single carers, and from €900 to €1,250 for carers with a spouse or partner. This reform will extend eligibility for the Carer’s Allowance to more people than ever before, while many existing recipients will see an increase in their payments. The change represents an 88% rise in income disregards since June 2022, reflecting Fianna Fáil’s continued commitment to supporting carers in a meaningful and practical way.
In Cavan and Monaghan, there will be a significant increase in the number of carers receiving the allowance. Furthermore, 153 carers currently receiving the allowance will see their weekly payments increase.
Speaking on the matter, Deputy Smith said:
“We all know the vital role carers play across our county and country. It is only right that their invaluable work is properly recognised and supported.
Starting Thursday, 153 families in Cavan and Monaghan currently receiving Carer’s Allowance will benefit from this change to the income thresholds, while others will now be eligible for the allowance for the first time. This is a meaningful step that will ease pressure on families and acknowledge the crucial role carers have in our community.”
As announced in Budget 2025, these changes mean a carer in a two-adult household earning up to €69,000 will now receive the full Carer’s Allowance, while those with incomes up to €97,000 may still qualify for a partial payment. From July, 99% of current recipients will qualify for the full-rate payment.
The Carer’s Allowance supports over 100,000 carers across Ireland. In 2025, spending on this allowance is expected to exceed €1.24 billion. In addition, the Department of Social Protection provides non-means-tested supports such as the Carer’s Benefit and the annual Carer’s Support Grant of €2,000, which was recently paid to more than 138,000 carers on June 5th.
“This is not the final step, but real progress towards Fianna Fáil’s commitment to abolish the means test for Carer’s Allowance,” Deputy Smith said.
“I look forward to working closely with the Minister to continue strengthening support for our carers in the future. We know carers across Cavan and Monaghan deserve more than just our thanks; they deserve real, practical support. That is why we are taking action and delivering meaningful improvements. This increase is part of our continued commitment to supporting the vital work carers do in homes and communities every day.”
Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith has welcomed increased funding for Cavan and Monaghan County Councils under the Government’s Local Property Tax (LPT) reform.
From 2026, County Cavan will benefit from an additional €400,000 each year, while County Monaghan will have an extra €300,000 due to changes in how LPT funds are distributed. This will give the councils greater flexibility to invest in vital local services, infrastructure, and community projects.
“This is about putting money back into communities so they can deliver the projects and improvements people want to see,” said Deputy Smith.
“People paying the local property tax deserve their contributions to work locally. These changes guarantee that more of this revenue is invested directly back into the areas it comes from, developing infrastructure and supporting stronger, more vibrant communities,” concluded Brendan Smith TD.
Cavan/Monaghan Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith has received confirmation from the Minister for Health that Detailed Design Stage 2C has now concluded, and the tender packages are prepared to be issued for pricing once internal HSE approval has been granted for same, in respect of the proposed major building project at Cavan General Hospital, including a new Emergency Department, Endoscopy Unit, and 54 additional inpatient beds.
Minister Jennifer Carroll McNeill, in her reply to Deputy Brendan Smith’s Parliamentary Question in Dáil Éireann, stated:
“A revised planning permission application was made to Cavan County Council for the new extension at Cavan General Hospital, to increase the inpatient bed numbers from 18 to 54. This planning was granted in early Q1 2025.
Detailed Design (Stage 2C) has now concluded, and the tender packages are prepared to be issued for pricing once internal HSE approval has been granted for the same.
The Enabling Works package number 2 (LV Diversion Works) is currently on site and is expected to be complete by Q4 2025.
If permission is granted to proceed to tender, and the subsequent tender returns are within the increased capital budget allocations, etc., the current programme indicates that the project could break ground by the end of Q4 this year,” concluded the Health Minister in her reply to Brendan Smith TD.
Deputy Brendan Smith added:
“I welcome the confirmation by the Minister of the further progress with this major project, which will provide much-needed additional and new facilities at Cavan General Hospital. I will continue to strongly advocate with the HSE and the Minister for Health for the further progression of this project as soon as possible.”
Cavan/Monaghan Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith has received confirmation from the Minister for Health that Detailed Design Stage 2C has now concluded, and the tender packages are prepared to be issued for pricing once internal HSE approval has been granted for same, in respect of the proposed major building project at Cavan General Hospital, including a new Emergency Department, Endoscopy Unit, and 54 additional inpatient beds.
Minister Jennifer Carroll McNeill, in her reply to Deputy Brendan Smith’s Parliamentary Question in Dáil Éireann, stated:
“A revised planning permission application was made to Cavan County Council for the new extension at Cavan General Hospital, to increase the inpatient bed numbers from 18 to 54. This planning was granted in early Q1 2025.
Detailed Design (Stage 2C) has now concluded, and the tender packages are prepared to be issued for pricing once internal HSE approval has been granted for the same.
The Enabling Works package number 2 (LV Diversion Works) is currently on site and is expected to be complete by Q4 2025.
If permission is granted to proceed to tender, and the subsequent tender returns are within the increased capital budget allocations, etc., the current programme indicates that the project could break ground by the end of Q4 this year,” concluded the Health Minister in her reply to Brendan Smith TD.
Deputy Brendan Smith added:
“I welcome the confirmation by the Minister of the further progress with this major project, which will provide much-needed additional and new facilities at Cavan General Hospital. I will continue to strongly advocate with the HSE and the Minister for Health for the further progression of this project as soon as possible.”
I appreciate the Ceann Comhairle giving me the opportunity to raise this important issue. I also appreciate that the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy Canney, is here to reply.
Bus commuters on the Cavan–Dublin route were absolutely shocked to learn on 16 June of a massive increase in fares from that date. A daily return ticket from Cavan to Dublin was increased from €18.50 to €27.30, an increase of almost 50%. I was not aware of the proposed increase, and I know from regular commuters on that route who contacted me that they were also unaware.
Over recent years there has been a welcome increase in the frequency of bus services in both rural and urban areas, which we all welcome. The policy of successive Governments has been to encourage people to use public transport where possible. That policy has been supported practically unanimously by the Oireachtas. To encourage people to switch to public transport there is a need for reasonably priced fares.
The decision by the National Transport Authority in the case of the route I am discussing is not fair and it is not equitable. Those fares must be reviewed and reduced. Typically on a bus any morning there are people going to work, students going to college, people going to hospital appointments, and people going about their ordinary business. As the Minister of State will be aware, there is a commitment in the programme for Government to keep fares low and affordable. I think the people on that particular route would question how that policy is being implemented.
A young lady who travelled on the route five days a week contacted me and sent me an extract from the relevant website. The question posed on the website was, “What this means for commuters”, and the answer was, “From June 16th, fares on commuter services provided by both Bus Éireann and Go-Ahead Ireland are to change with some decreasing, some increasing, and some largely unchanged.” There was no mention of Cavan fares and the massive increase proposed there. That young lady did some research and said it appears to be by far the highest fare increase in recent times.
I am asking the Minister of State to ask the National Transport Authority to review that determination as urgently as possible and to have the fare substantially reduced to the range of what it was until 16 June. As he will know, the three counties of Ulster in this State — Donegal, Monaghan, and Cavan — do not have a rail service. When we travel from Cavan to Dublin we pay two tolls on the way to the outskirts of Dublin city. There is a lot of congestion in the outer Dublin area and in the city. People want to use public transport, but they want to have it at a reasonable price.
I sincerely request that the National Transport Authority be told to review this matter, reduce the fares, and ensure that commuters from Cavan to Dublin and Dublin to Cavan are treated with respect and provided with a reasonable fare structure.
Deputy Seán Canney
The Deputy has spoken to me before about this issue. I really appreciate his bringing it to light.
From the outset, I would like to clarify that the Minister for Transport has responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. However, neither the Minister nor his officials are involved in the day-to-day operation of public transport services. The statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally rests with the National Transport Authority.
The NTA works with the public transport operators, which deliver the services and have responsibility for day-to-day operational matters. The NTA also has statutory responsibility for the regulation of fares charged to passengers in respect of public transport services provided under public service obligation (PSO) contracts.
In this context, the NTA published the national fares strategy in 2023. This aims to create a more equitable, consistent, and easy-to-understand fare system based on distance travelled. In line with this strategy, the NTA published fare determinations in January 2024 covering the Dublin city zone (25 km from the city centre) and the Dublin commuter zone (50 km from the city centre). This determination is being implemented in two phases.
The second phase of this determination was introduced on 28 April 2025 with new multimodal fare caps and revised commuter rail fares. Phase 2b, pertaining to adjustments to commuter bus fares, commenced on 16 June 2025. I understand these are the fares to which the Deputy referred. This builds on the previous rail fare changes introduced in April. The new zones and fare structures, which have been widely publicised, aim to deliver more consistent and equitable fares and reduce disparities, particularly in the outer commuter towns surrounding Dublin. These are distance-based fares.
The existing fare structures were not always equitable, consistent, or easy for passengers to understand, and the new distance-based approach aims to address this by providing a fairer and clearer fare system. In Cavan, fares have seen an increase in the single adult category from €9.45 to €11.40. It is important to note that these fare changes will see increases for some passengers and decreases for others, in order to allow for a more equitable fares structure. It is the NTA’s intention to roll out further changes in future determinations during 2025.
Deputy Brendan Smith
I thank the Minister of State for the reply. The figure I have been given, and the fare I know people are paying, is the return fare, which increased from €18.50 to €27.30. That is a somewhat different percentage increase than that for the single fare he cited. He quite correctly said the intention is to have a fair charging system. That is not applicable in the case of the Cavan route I referenced in my introductory remarks.
One issue I have been raising since before the Minister of State was appointed, during the term of office of the former Minister, Eamon Ryan, was the need to introduce a direct Cavan to Dublin service, leaving Cavan in the morning at peak times, 5 a.m. or 6 a.m., stopping only in Virginia and Whitegate on the Cavan–Meath border, and then going directly to Busáras. At the moment, most services go through Kells and other Meath towns, which means it takes those wishing to travel from Cavan to Dublin longer.
In the evening time, when people are returning to Cavan, if they leave at around 3 o’clock in the afternoon, when the bus for Cavan reaches Blanchardstown or Phibsborough, it is sometimes full. Many passengers on the bus are passengers going to Meath towns, where there is a welcome frequency of buses to Navan and Kells. Local employees in Bus Éireann are as anxious as commuters and I are to see direct routes leaving Busáras at peak evening times, between 3.30 p.m. and 5.30 p.m., that would stop only at Whitegate on the Cavan–Meath border, Virginia, and Cavan town.
As I said, early morning buses from Cavan should leave Cavan, stop at Virginia and Whitegate, and then travel directly to Busáras. That would considerably enhance the standard of service for commuters and people travelling every day. I know it is very difficult for Bus Éireann employees to see patients leaving James Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown having to wait hours to get on a bus. That is not acceptable. I hope the Minister of State can raise the issue with the Minister.
Deputy Seán Canney
I assure the Deputy the Government is strongly committed to providing all citizens with reliable and realistic sustainable mobility options, and public transport plays a key role in the delivery of this goal. To support this objective, in Budget 2025 the Department of Transport secured €658 million in funding, an increase from €613 million for 2024.
This funding supports the continuation of the 20% fare reduction in PSO services, the Young Adult Card for PSO and commercial bus services, and the 90-minute rail fare until the end of 2025. The Deputy referenced a return fare increase from €18.50 to €27.30. I will check that — it seems like a large increase.
I will examine peak-time morning and evening schedules. People travel from Dublin and board at different stops, and services have to let people off. It is about the experience we want to give passengers if we hope to get more and more people to use public transport. I will, however, bring these matters back to the Minister.
The Department’s investment of €658 million in the PSO and Local Link services in 2025 demonstrates our commitment to a sustainable, equitable, and accessible public transport network for all. It is also a sign of the times that we are now very exercised about public transport quality because more and more people are demanding it. That is a success in itself. We need to make sure people get a good experience every time.
I again thank the Deputy. I will speak to the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, about the issues he has raised.
