Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 February 2022
299. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when an exemption for the conversion of pubs into residential units will be introduced under the Housing for All plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5934/22]
View answerThe Planning and Development (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2018, which came into operation on 8 February 2018, provide for an exemption from the requirement to obtain planning permission in respect of the change of use of certain vacant commercial premises to residential use, including the conversion of vacant areas above ground floor commercial premises to residential use. This measure was aimed at facilitating the productive re-use of qualifying vacant commercial buildings as homes, while also facilitating urban renewal and the bringing on stream of increased housing supply. The original expiry date of the Regulations was 31 December 2021 which was subsequently extended to 25 February 2022 arising from the Covid-related shutdown of the planning system for 8 weeks during the period March to May 2020, which extended all planning timelines by 8 weeks.
The Government's recently published Housing Plan for Ireland - Housing for All commits to reviewing and extending the 2018 regulations to the end of 2025. As has previously been signalled, it is proposed to extend the scope of the measure to enable the conversion of vacant public houses into residential use without the need for planning permission subject to certain limitations and conditions.
Under section 262(4) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, legislative proposals in relation to exempted development require the approval of both Houses of the Oireachtas before they can be signed into law. In this regard, the draft Planning and Development Act (Exempted Development) Regulations 2022 were laid before both Houses on 3 February 2022. Subject to the approval of the Oireachtas, I would hope to sign the new regulations shortly.
