Want to get away from it all? Irish government will pay you £69,000 to go and live on a secluded island – but there is a catch
- The Irish government is paying people up to €80,000 (£69,000) to relocate
- Potential buyers must purchase a property in one of around 30 remote islands
- The scheme is open to prospective applications from Saturday July 1 2023
The Irish government is paying people up to €80,000 (£69,000) to purchase a property in one of the country’s offshore islands.
A ten-year national policy, entitled ‘Our Living Islands’, was published earlier this month and is designed to boost the population of a number of remote islands.
However, the sizeable grants are only available to people who are willing to purchase a building that was constructed before 1993 and has been vacant for a minimum of two years.
The funds are only allowed to be spent on building work such as installing insulation, structural improvements and redecoration.
The Republic of Ireland’s Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, stated: ‘I’m delighted to launch ‘Our Living Islands’, which is our new ten year National Islands Policy and our first in 27 years.
Areas available to relocate to as part of the scheme include Clare Island, which has a number of scenic beaches and cliffs
An aerial view of Cloughcorr beach on Arranmore Island in County Donegal
”Our Living Islands’ contains 80 actions which are designed to support and empower our island communities and the people living there.
‘It’s all about improving housing, better access to essential services in health and education, delivering high speed broadband, and further developing our outdoor amenities, which will in turn increase tourism and support sustainable island communities’, she added.
The ‘Our Living Islands’ grants are an extension of an already-existing in place on the Irish called ‘Croí Cónaithe’.
Areas available to relocate to as part of the scheme include Arranmore – located off the coast of county Donegal – which has a number of scenic beaches and cliffs.
You could also move to Clare Island – off the coast of County Mayo – which features a resident population of just 160.
Successful applicants could receive as much as €84,000 (£72,000) to transform a property into a remote island paradise
A statement by the Irish government regarding the policy reads: ‘The aim of this policy is to ensure that sustainable, vibrant communities can continue to live – and thrive – on the offshore islands for many years to come,’ the government says.
The policy will also seek to improve housing and water infrastructure, as well as providing better access to essential services in health and education.
Successful applicants could receive as much as €84,000 (£72,000) to transform a property into a remote island paradise.
Anyone wishing to apply to the scheme can do so from Saturday July 1 2023.
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