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New shared home equity scheme launched

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3 years ago

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On the back of the article we published two weeks ago informing of the new First Home Shared Equity scheme, the government announced a further home buying incentive this week.

A new €30,000 grant is available to those who purchase a vacant property to live in.

At the time of writing, Minister Darragh O Brien is bringing details of the Croi Connaithe scheme to cabinet, which allows for grants of up to €30k to help first time buyers with the cost of renovating existing vacant buildings. The scheme will be administered through the Local Authorities and is envisaged it will help in the restoration and conversion of many unoccupied buildings in our towns and villages.

Additional Funding of €7.5m has also been approved this week by Rural and Community Development minister Heather Humphreys, to redevelop 36 derelict and vacant properties in rural areas into new community hubs. The funding will see former banks, Garda Stations and courthouses taken into public ownership and converted for community use.

Both these new schemes are designed to tackle the scourge of dereliction in our rural towns and villages.

A further measure, aimed at easing pressure in the rental market, is the much publicised move to tighten regulatory controls on the short term letting of non-principal private residences in rent pressure zones.

The housing minister has said the new controls would result in more homes returning to the long term rental market in areas where rents are highest and where households have the greatest difficulty sourcing affordable accommodation. From September, online platforms will not be able to advertise properties in rent pressure zones that do not have the requisite planning permission in place.

Non compliance will be an offence for both the individual property owner concerned and the property website

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South Kerry Jobs Fair returns to Great Southern Hotel in February

The 2026 South Kerry Jobs Fair is set to return to Killarney with a wide range of employment opportunities across multiple industries. Organised by South Kerry Development Partnership CLG (SKDP), […]

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48 minutes ago

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16 January 2026

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The 2026 South Kerry Jobs Fair is set to return to Killarney with a wide range of employment opportunities across multiple industries.

Organised by South Kerry Development Partnership CLG (SKDP), the recruitment event will take place at The Great Southern Hotel on Thursday, February 12.
Employers from sectors including construction, hospitality, IT, finance, retail, manufacturing, and healthcare will be in attendance to meet with potential new recruits.
Beyond the chance to meet employers, jobseekers can participate in free workshops designed to improve their employment prospects. these sessions will cover essential skills such as drafting effective cover letters, CV preparation, and techniques for undergoing job interviews. There will also be information provided regarding employer relations supports for those seeking new roles.
Joanne Griffin, Enterprise Officer for SKDP, noted that the fair has grown significantly over the years and is now established as a key date for recruitment in the region. She highlighted that the informal setting allows both parties to ask questions and determine if a position is the right fit. SKDP CEO Noel Spillane added that the event is particularly vital for local businesses, including those in the tourism sector, to ensure they have sufficient staffing for the upcoming season.
This year’s event is supported by the Great Southern Hotel, Intreo, Local Link Kerry, South Kerry Skillnet, and Morgan McKinley. To ensure the fair is accessible to as many people as possible, buses will be provided to transport attendees from across the South Kerry region to the hotel in Killarney.

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Government latte levy delay is fuelling litter crisis

The founders of the Killarney Coffee Cup Project and the environmental group VOICE have issued a warning that government inaction is undermining local efforts to reduce waste. Despite Killarney leading […]

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3 hours ago

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16 January 2026

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The founders of the Killarney Coffee Cup Project and the environmental group VOICE have issued a warning that government inaction is undermining local efforts to reduce waste.

Despite Killarney leading the way as Ireland’s first coffee cup-free town, the group says the project is now on “precarious footing” because a promised national levy on disposable cups has failed to materialise.
The “latte levy” was included in the Circular Economy Act 2022, but a start date has yet to be confirmed. Advocates argue that without this charge at the point of sale, there is no financial incentive for customers to switch to reusables, leaving local independent businesses to carry the burden alone.
The call for action follows the latest IBAL (Irish Business Against Litter) report, which found that disposable coffee cups remain a major litter problem, appearing in one-fifth of all surveyed sites across Ireland.
In contrast, the report noted that plastic bottles and cans have become 60% less common since the Deposit Return Scheme was introduced last year, proving that state-led financial measures are effective.
“We need Government to act, so that we can level the playing field. Without a levy, at the point of sale, customers are not incentivised to choose reusable alternatives, businesses aren’t motivated to offer reusable alternatives, and large coffee chains continue with their business models that depend on disposables.” said the founders of the Killarney Coffee Cup Project. “The loss of political will is deeply worrying.”
Ireland currently uses over 200 million single-use cups every year.
VOICE and local organisers point to the success of the plastic bag levy as a model, noting that it changed public behaviour almost overnight.
They argue that funds from a cup levy could be ringfenced to pay for national infrastructure, such as specialized street bins and cleaning hubs for reusable cups.
Tad Kirakowski, CEO of VOICE, urged the government to honour its commitment, stating that continued delays send the wrong signal and lock the country into unnecessary waste.

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