Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage to resume discussions on Urban Regeneration

The meeting at 3pm in Committee Room 3 of Leinster House will hear from:

• Officials from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage;
• Giulia Vallone, Senior Architect, Cork County Council;
• Mel Reynolds, Architect; and
• Odran Reid and Helen Murray, Technological University Dublin.

Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Steven Matthews said: “This is the Committee’s third meeting on the regeneration of our towns and cities, a core objective of the Ireland 2040 national planning framework, Housing for All and Town Centres First.

“Members look forward to discussing issues including the impact of vacant site and property taxes, the recently announced Croí Cónaithe scheme to kick start the reactivation of planning permissions for build to sell apartment schemes in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford, and the Living Above the Shop programme to convert empty space over business premises into much-needed housing.

“These are all important elements in the long-term strategy to restoring life and vibrancy back to the heart of our urban centres and create living cities and towns. The Committee will then examine the issues raised and the evidence heard at our meetings and report to the Dáil and Seanad on the matters identified, which will also be forwarded to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.”

The Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

The meeting in Committee Room 3 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.