Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 October 2017
608. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of plans to provide incentives for the conversion of commercial properties into residential accommodation nationwide. [41489/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for a Partnership Government, published in May 2016, includes a commitment to examine reclassifying and incentivising the use of underutilised or vacant areas over groundfloor premises in urban areas, for both residential and commercial use. A key objective of Pillar 5 of the Government's Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, launched in July 2016, is to ensure that existing housing stock is used to the maximum degree possible and focuses on measures to use existing vacant stock to renew urban and rural areas.
Specifically, Action 5.9 of Rebuilding Ireland 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 currently progressing the drafting of the necessary revisions to the planning regulations to give effect to this action and it is expected that draft regulations will be submitted for Oireachtas approval by end-October 2017.
Furthermore, a multi-disciplinary working group - including expertise in building regulations, fire safety in buildings, planning, design, heritage etc - led by my Department will be working to bring greater clarity to the regulatory requirements that apply and to advise both industry and local authorities to how best to facilitate the re-use or development of under-utilised older vacant buildings in the context of the regulatory requirements.
