Want to get away from it all? The Irish government pays you £69,000 to live on a remote island
Want to get away from it all? The Irish government will pay you £69,000 to live on a remote island, but there’s a catch
- The Irish government pays people up to €80,000 (£69,000) to move
- Potential buyers must purchase a property on one of approximately 30 outlying islands
- The scheme is open to potential applications from Saturday 1 July 2023
The Irish government pays people up to €80,000 (£69,000) to buy a property on one of the country’s offshore islands.
A ten-year national policy entitled ‘Our Living Islands’ was published earlier this month and aims to boost the population of a number of remote islands.
However, the large subsidies are only available to people who are willing to buy a building that was built before 1993 and has been empty for at least two years.
The money may only be spent on construction work such as installing insulation, structural improvements and refurbishment.
Heather Humphreys, Ireland’s Minister for Rural and Community Development, said: ‘I am delighted to be launching ‘Our Living Islands’, our new 10-year National Islands policy and our first in 27 years.
Areas available to move 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 features 80 actions designed to support and empower our island communities and the people who live there.
“It’s all about improving housing, better access to essential health and education services, delivering high-speed broadband and further developing our outdoor amenities, which in turn will increase tourism and build sustainable island communities.” support,” she added.
The ‘Our Living Islands’ grants are an extension of an existing grant on the Irish called ‘Croí Cónaithe’.
Areas available to move 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 – home to just 160 residents.
Successful applicants can receive as much as €84,000 (£72,000) to transform a property into a remote island paradise
A statement from the Irish government on 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 focus on improving housing and water infrastructure, and improving access to essential health and education services.
Successful applicants can receive as much as €84,000 (£72,000) to transform a property into a remote island paradise.
Anyone who wants to make use of the scheme can do so from Saturday 1 July 2023.