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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →No. Ireland’s Our Living Islands policy is not a €140,000 relocation offer for Australians. Its island-specific figures are refurbishment-grant ceilings: up to €60,000 for qualifying vacant properties and up to €84,000 for qualifying derelict properties, subject to the grant’s rules. They are euros, not Australian dollars, and are not payments simply for moving.
What Our Living Islands is—and is not
Ireland published Our Living Islands in June 2023 as a ten-year policy for offshore island communities. It is a national development policy, not a relocation scheme offering newcomers a lump sum.
The policy sets five objectives: supporting population, diversifying island economies, improving health and wellbeing, empowering island communities, and creating sustainable futures. Its 2023–2026 action plan contains 80 time-bound actions. At the launch, then-minister Heather Humphreys said the aim was to see more people living and working on the islands, with good career prospects regardless of where an employer is based.
What the €60,000 and €84,000 figures mean
The island figures announced in 2023 are maximums under an enhanced version of Ireland’s Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, also known as Croí Cónaithe. They relate to refurbishment work on eligible property—not a reward for relocating.
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| Property status | Island grant ceiling announced in 2023 | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Vacant | Up to €60,000 | Qualifying refurbishment under the grant scheme |
| Derelict | Up to €84,000 | Qualifying refurbishment, including the derelict-property top-up |
The Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht described these island ceilings as 20% above the stated mainland ceilings. The vacant-property ceiling is not added to the derelict-property ceiling: the property’s status determines which maximum may apply. In either case, “up to” is a ceiling, not a guaranteed award or an automatic payment of the maximum.
Who the island policy covers
The policy describes its scope as around 30 offshore islands that are cut off daily by the tide, have no bridge or causeway, have permanent year-round populations, and are not in private ownership. That definition is about which communities the policy addresses; it does not mean every island property is available or grant-eligible.
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The policy materials do not establish special eligibility for Australians. Nor do they provide immigration or work permission. Australian citizenship alone should not be taken to mean a person can move to Ireland, work there, or qualify for the refurbishment grant. Anyone considering a move needs to check the relevant Irish immigration rules separately and confirm grant eligibility with the official service and responsible local authority.
How the refurbishment grant works in practice
The current Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant service describes support for bringing an eligible vacant property into use as a principal private residence or a rental property, with a top-up for a derelict property. The precise requirements and application process matter more than the headline maximum.
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- Check the live grant requirements. Read the current application page for property, use, and supporting-document requirements before committing to a purchase or works.
- Confirm the property’s status and island eligibility. Ask the responsible local authority how the property will be assessed and whether the island-specific terms apply.
- Establish the award and timing before relying on the money. Do not assume the maximum will be approved, or that grant funding will cover the full renovation cost.
- Plan for island-specific logistics. The policy identifies transport and developed infrastructure as important to sustaining island populations. A government summary also refers to subsidised ferry transport for construction materials and machinery; it does not provide a particular island’s schedules or establish that a suitable home or contractor is available there.
Why the headline’s $140,000 claim is misleading
The €60,000 and €84,000 ceilings are in euros, and each is tied to property refurbishment. Neither is an Australian-dollar relocation payment. The official policy materials reviewed also do not say Australians receive a special offer or establish nationality-specific grant eligibility.
There is no basis in these island-policy figures for describing the programme as Ireland paying Australians up to $140,000 to move to remote islands. The amount and purpose should not be conflated with other housing-support announcements that concern different properties or programmes.
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What to verify before making plans
- Whether the property meets the current grant rules and qualifies as vacant or derelict.
- Whether the intended use—living in the property or renting it—meets the live service conditions.
- What the local authority requires, what work is eligible, and what award amount is actually approved.
- Whether you have the immigration and, if relevant, work permission needed for your circumstances.
- Local housing availability, renovation costs, transport, utilities, and construction logistics for the specific island.
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