The living over the shop scheme, LOTS, was introduced in the five city council areas on 6 April 2001 to tackle the problem of vacant upper storey space in targeted streets in the five cities of Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Waterford. It was a matter for the relevant local authority to prepare and submit proposals recommending suitable streets, or parts of streets, for designation having regard to the scheme criteria. An independent expert advisory panel assessed the proposals and made recommendations to the Minister in this regard. These recommendations were accepted in full and that is the basis on which the scheme is now being implemented and I have no proposals to extend the LOTS designated area.