Ireland has about 30 inhabited islands but without land connection, which is causing a decrease in the population, a situation to which the country seeks to remedy. To do this, eThe Irish government offers “generous subsidies” to those who wish to move to one of their “impressive” islands and restore an empty or abandoned property, as reported by the British newspaper .
The initiative is part of the Irish policy “Our Living Islands”, a decaded strategy launched in June 2023 by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht. ANDThe objective is simply to revitalize these islands that “they are an integral part of the rural fabric of Ireland,” he explains. “Our ambition is to ensure that sustainable and vibrant communities can continue to live and thrive in the coastal islands for many years,” he adds.
Less than 3,000 people currently live in the 23 inhabited islands that meet the requirements for the subsidy program, according to government figures. Some have only a few permanent residents, which converts the sustainability of the community in great concern.
To try to alleviate this problem, the government offers subsidies for up to 84,000 euros to those who wish to buy and renew abandoned homes In these islands. In this way, subsidies support the restoration of empty or abandoned properties to turn them into permanent housing or long -term rentals, which helps fight the shortage of housing and preserve historical buildings.
The program is open to any person, although in the case of foreigners they must take into account that they have to comply with the usual immigration standards, so they might need the corresponding visa or permit. The property too You have to meet some requirements: having been built before 2007, having been vacant at least two years at the time of the application and being located in one of the qualified coastal islands that are isolated by the tide and are not connected to the continent by a bridge or a road.
Ireland is just a short flight or a ferry from the United Kingdom, so the idea of moving to a remote island to enjoy a quieter life by the sea is already capturing the attention of the British.
