As part of the ‘Our Living Islands’ policy, the Irish government is providing significant economic incentives to encourage people to relocate to the country’s offshore islands. Ireland’s “Our Living Islands” scheme is a unique opportunity for individuals to relocate to one of the country’s 30 offshore islands and receive a substantial cash grant. Ireland is offering an exciting opportunity for residents “with appropriate immigration permissions” to move to its scenic offshore communities. Our Living Islands is a 10-year national policy for these off-shore islands, and was published in June 2023.
Aim of the Policy
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 Irish Department of Rural and Community Development has launched its first Irish Islands policy in 27 years. Due to the lobbying work of Aran Islands Energy Coop the policy is taking the study on Regulatory barriers in Ireland drafted by the Clean energy for EU islands secretariat into account. Stating that the coastal islands and their communities are an integral part of the fabric of rural Ireland. They are also an integral part of the State’s heritage and have a special significance in Irish culture.
Strategic Objectives
The policy is underpinned by five high-level strategic objectives, identified by islanders themselves as being of key importance for the sustainable future of their communities:
- Revitalise population levels on the islands
- Diversify island economies
- Enhance Health and Wellbeing services
- Empower Island Communities
- Build smart sustainable futures
Consultation Process
Related to that aim is the ambition that visitors to the islands can continue to experience and appreciate the unique culture, heritage and environmental richness that the islands have to offer. This Government policy has been developed following an extensive consultation process with the island communities and other stakeholders. Who are the other “stakeholders”?
Economic Incentives
As part of the ‘Our Living Islands’ policy, the government is providing significant economic incentives to encourage relocation to the country’s islands. This initiative aims to revitalize Ireland’s offshore communities and ensure their sustainability for years to come.
According to the government’s official website, the goal is to foster vibrant, thriving communities on these islands while preserving their unique culture, heritage, and natural beauty. The application process for this program opened on July 1, 2023.
Fraudulent Visa Schemes
However, in light of the announcement, officials have issued a warning about fraudulent visa schemes. They clarified, “The policy is only available to residents of Ireland with appropriate immigration permissions and is not open to non-EU/EEA nationals living outside of Ireland. Please be wary of fraudsters offering ‘relocation visas’ and always verify visa information through official Irish government sources, especially the Irish Immigration homepage.”
30 Offshore Islands
Ireland’s “Our Living Islands” scheme is a unique opportunity for individuals to relocate to one of the country’s 30 offshore islands and receive a substantial cash grant. The initiative aims to support communities on these islands, which are not connected to the mainland by bridges and are cut off by the tides.
As part of the project, the Irish government is offering grants of over €80,000 to new residents of these offshore communities.
Restoration and Renovation
However, it’s not a straightforward process of moving into a cosy little island cottage and receiving a large sum of money. The grants are specifically designed to support the restoration and renovation of abandoned and dilapidated properties on the islands. To be eligible, prospective residents must purchase and own a property on one of the designated islands. The property must have been constructed before 1993 and have been vacant for at least two years. To date there is no evidence of a rush for uptakes.