Priority Areas

What is a Rural Priority Area?

Rural Priority Areas are designated as part of our strategy to tackle rural unfitness and disrepair in the private sector by targeting grant aid to those areas in greatest need.  Rural Priority Areas are areas which suffer from poor housing, isolation and economic disadvantage.  

Current Priority Areas

There are 10 wards currently identified as Rural Priority Areas where enhanced grant aid may be available in certain circumstances:  

  • Belcoo and Garrison (Fermanagh)

  • Belleek and Boa (Fermanagh)

  • Derrygonnelly (Fermanagh)

  • Derrylin (Fermanagh)

  • Newtownbutler (Fermanagh)

  • Rosslea (Fermanagh)

  • Bonamargy & Rathlin (Ballymena)

  • Glendun (Ballymena)

  • Newtownstewart (Strabane)  

  • Pomeroy (Cookstown)

Additional Help Available

Within these Rural Priority Areas the following enhanced grant aid is available:-

  • Renovation Grants available for properties which are fit to live in, but in disrepair.

  • Home Repair Assistance Grants available for owner occupiers and tenants aged 70 and over where properties are in disrepair, regardless of whether they are fit or unfit to live in.  Grant aid covers external fabric repairs, basic security measures and electrical rewiring works only.

  • Replacement Grants may be available to landlords of vacant dwellings where there is evidence of local housing need, provided the landlord agrees to make the property available for renting to future tenants in housing need for a period of five years.

  • Landlord contributions to grant aided works will be reduced from 50% to 25% of the approved cost of the eligible works for Renovation, Replacement and Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) grants.

More detailed guidance on grant aid in Rural Priority Areas can be obtained by contacting your local Grants Office