Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 July 2017
1711. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to audit all vacant commercial properties, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36552/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAction 5.9 of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness commits to reviewing planning legislation to allow the change of use of vacant commercial units in urban areas, including vacant or under-utilised areas over ground-floor premises, into residential units without having to go through the planning process. This proposal is also incorporated in Action 6 of the Action Plan for Rural Development, launched in January 2017. My Department is presently progressing the drafting of the necessary revisions to the planning regulations to give effect to this action. It is intended that the new regulations, which will require the approval of both Houses of the Oireachtas, will be made as soon as possible in the Autumn. However, there is no proposal contained in either Action Plan for an audit of vacant commercial properties and I have no plans at present to undertake such an audit.
Further to the commitment in Rebuilding Ireland, I am currently considering a draft Vacant Homes Strategy as part of the targeted review of the Action Plan, and am engaging with key Departments and Agencies to consider the analysis from the Housing Agency-led Working Group and agree on the recommended actions, prior to publication in September.
I would like to see as much ambition as possible in bringing as many viable vacant properties back into use at an early stage. As part of the targeted review of Rebuilding Ireland, I intend to explore what further actions can be taken and what new ideas we can bring to bear, in close liaison with Ministerial colleagues. However, this will not delay the commencement of important work at local level in gathering more accurate and up-to-date information on where vacant properties are and who owns them, so that we can facilitate the re-use of many vacant properties, particularly in our cities and towns.
My Department is also working with Dublin City Council, in the context of the Living City Initiative, to explore the potential for further streamlining of the approach to re-developing and re-utilising vacant properties. Dublin City Council has examined approximately 11,000 rateable units in its functional area. From a visual analysis in a sample number of streets, the City Council has estimated that there may be approximately 4,000 vacant units above commercial premises that could potentially be converted into residential use in its functional area. This kind of detailed analysis will be crucial in determining the scale and scope for prioritising the targeting of vacant properties that could quickly be brought back into use.
