evidence: This month, Ireland came up with a tantalizing proposal. The government will give renovation grants of 60,000 to 84,000 euros (around $65,000-$91,600) for people to fix up properties that have been vacant for at least two years, as part of a wider plan for the sustainable growth of 30 offshore islands. These islands are geographically isolated and cut off from the mainland, and some have as few as two residents. They are also breathtaking: rolling hills, dramatically craggy cliffs and historic ruins. "Issues such as the provision of housing, the delivery of education and health care, access to high-speed broadband and employment opportunities are magnified on the offshore islands. There is also an added challenge of retaining young people on the islands as the population profile is aging," Ireland’s Rural and Community Development Department said in an email, adding that it was not paying people to move. The grants — which are for renovations, not the home purchase — were first launched last year on the mainland to revitalize cities and rural areas that had a large number of vacant buildings. The response was strong, the department said, and more than 500 applications had been approved by the first quarter of 2023. None of the policies — for the mainland or the islands — include help with immigration or resettlement, it added. (While non-residents can purchase property in Ireland, homeownership does not guarantee residency.)