The scheme had only been in place in towns and villages, but was extended to rural areas last week.
Less than 40 applications have been submitted to avail of a 50,000 grant to refurbish a vacant property in the midlands.
The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant allocates €30,000 in funding to buyers, and a further €20,000 if the building is 'derelict.'
17 people have submitted an application in Offaly, 11 in Westmeath and just seven have applied in Laois.
The scheme had only been in place in towns and villages, but was extended to rural areas last week.
Laois Fine Gael councillor Aisling Moran says homeowners in rural areas are missing out on another grant:
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