More than 3,000 vacant homes were refurbished across Ireland in 2025 under the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant.


The North-West led the way, with Donegal seeing over 1,000 approvals and €22 million paid out.


The scheme has now returned over 4,500 properties to use since its launch in 2022.


Speaking to Ocean Fm news Minister Marian Harkin says the grant is a practical and effective way to increase housing supply in the North West.

More than 3,000 vacant homes were refurbished across Ireland in 2025 under the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant. The North-West led the way, with Donegal seeing over 1,000 approvals and €22 million paid out. The scheme has now returned over 4,500 properties to use since its launch in 2022. Speaking to Ocean Fm news Minister Marian Harkin says the grant is a practical and effective way to increase housing supply in the North West.

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Vacant homes grant boosts housing in the North West

Students across the North West are being advised to remain vigilant against potential accommodation scams.

It comes as CAO offers will be made later in the week following the release of Leaving Cert results.

New students as well as ones returning to college are at an elevated risk of accommodation fraud.

Jesus Quaye Saya (hay-zoos qway sigh-a), Deputy President of ATU Sligo's Student Union has the following advice for students coming to the North West:

Students across the North West are being advised to remain vigilant against potential accommodation scams.
It comes as CAO offers will be made later in the week following the release of Leaving Cert results.
New students as well as ones returning to college are at an elevated risk of accommodation fraud.
Jesus Quaye Saya (hay-zoos qway sigh-a), Deputy President of ATU Sligo's Student Union has the following advice for students coming to the North West:

ATU students being warned to avoid accommodation scams

A Sligo councillor has called on government and opposition TDs to make road safety their number one priority.

It comes as 5 teenagers were killed in a crash on the M9 motorway over the weekend.

It brings the total number of fatalities on Irish roads this year to 123.

Councillor Marie Casserly, who is also chair of the Sligo Local Community Safety Partnership, says the government isn't aware of the severity of the situation on Irish roads:

A Sligo councillor has called on government and opposition TDs to make road safety their number one priority. It comes as 5 teenagers were killed in a crash on the M9 motorway over the weekend. It brings the total number of fatalities on Irish roads this year to 123. Councillor Marie Casserly, who is also chair of the Sligo Local Community Safety Partnership, says the government isn't aware of the severity of the situation on Irish roads:

Sligo councillor reiterates calls for road deaths to be declared national emergency

A Bundoran based elected representative has moved this morning to ease concerns over swimming restrictions that have been imposed on a number of beaches in Donegal.

The warnings have been posted on the beaches.ie website and will remain in place as a result of forecasted heavy rainfall which can result in pollution due to surface water run-off.

Before the restrictions are removed samples will be taken with the HSE contacted for testing.

Among the impacted beaches are Bundoran, and Downings.

Councillor Mick McMahon says the swimming restrictions are standard practice when a large amount rainfall follows a long dry spell of weather.

A Bundoran based elected representative has moved this morning to ease concerns over swimming restrictions that have been imposed on a number of beaches in Donegal. The warnings have been posted on the&nbsp;<a href="http://beaches.ie/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://beaches.ie&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1787127181902000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3oJEj-MoAmzNXqMmDCNPH5">beaches.ie</a>&nbsp;website and will remain in place as a result of forecasted heavy rainfall which can result in pollution due to surface water run-off. Before the restrictions are removed samples will be taken with the HSE contacted for testing. Among the impacted beaches are Bundoran, and Downings. Councillor Mick McMahon says the swimming restrictions are standard practice when a large amount rainfall follows a long dry spell of weather.

Vacant homes grant boosts housing in the North West

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