The truth behind Our Living Islands Policy
Can you get €80,000 from Irish Government for moving to offshore islands?
If you are even a little bit interested in Irish news you have to read about the scheme that gives people €80,000 for moving to offshore islands. In recent weeks, many news articles have emerged praising the policy, followed by many debunking it as a lie.
First of all:
- yes, Our Living Islands is an actual 10-Year Government Policy directed to increase the offshore islands’ population and living conditions of the islanders
- and no, nobody is going to pay you for moving to an island, it’s nothing but clickbait
In fact, the plan has been misportrayed in national news so many times that the government had to provide an answer in the FAQ section to clarify.
It says:
Q: Is there a scheme that pays me to live on an island?
A: No. Our Living Islands is a policy, not a scheme, nor does it contain any scheme or proposal that involves any payment for individuals or families to relocate to an offshore island.
The Policy specifically targets inhabited islands off the coast of Ireland that are:
- cut off daily by the tide
- are not connected to the mainland by a bridge or causeway
- have permanent year-round populations
- are not in private ownership.
The majority of these islands lie off the western seaboard of counties Donegal, Mayo, Galway, and Cork. You can see them on the map below or look at the list on gov.ie.
Also, the policy doesn't prioritize foreign immigrants, so the residency requirements are staying the same as in the rest of Ireland.
The €80,000 mentioned in the clickbait headlines is derived from the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant established last year. This grant supports individuals interested in converting vacant and derelict houses into long-term homes
To qualify for the grant, you must:
- already own the house or have evidence of active negotiations to buy it
- use the house as your principal private residence or make it available for long-term rent, no holiday homes or short-term rentals will qualify
- have proof that the property has been vacant for at least 2 years and that it was built up to and including 2007
The standard grant can go up to €50,000, and you can top it up to €20,000 more for the derelict houses (keep in mind that you would have to confirm all the renovation costs and proof that the house is in fact derelict).
Starting from July 1, 2023, when the new policy was made public, additional support was added for houses located on the offshore islands. The maximum rate in that case is 20% higher. This brings the maximum grant rates up to €60,000 for vacant houses and up to €84,000 where the houses are confirmed to be derelict.
In conclusion, can you get up to €84,000 from the Irish Government? Sort of, but you have to buy a house that will qualify for the grant and spend all the money on its renovation.
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