Auctioneer John Leahy says more people are applying for grants to be used on vacant and derelict homes.
An Offaly councillor believes the Vacant Homes Refurbishment Grant is slowly working in the county.
Internal reviews at Offaly County Council on the numbers of vacant and derelict houses have been carried out across the county.
174 homes were found in Birr alone, with 148 of those being vacant and 26 of those being derelict.
Independent Councillor for Birr and auctioneer John Leahy says more people are applying for those grants:
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