Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 February 2023
238. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in the case of a publican selling their liquor licence and wishing to renovate the premises and turn it into apartments, if there are grants available for the renovation process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7861/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Planning and Development Act (Exempted Development) 2022 Regulations, which I signed into law on 21 February 2022, 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. These regulations extend the operation of the previous 2018 Regulations in this regard until end 2025. In addition a new class of use eligible to avail of the planning exemption was also included in the regulations – that of public houses (up to a maximum of 9 residential units). This is designed to ease the burden of converting pubs, which are no longer viable and have ceased to operate, to residential accommodation.
My Department has a number of schemes available which are targeted at tackling vacancy.
The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was launched in July 2022. This provides a grant of up to a maximum of €30,000 for the refurbishment of vacant properties, for occupation as a principal private residence, including the conversion of a property which has not previously been used as residential. A maximum top-up grant amount of up to €20,000 is available where the property is confirmed to be derelict.
The repair and leasing scheme is also available and this scheme may be used to convert vacant former public houses into residential accommodation, in return for the property being leased to the local authority for social housing for a period of between 5 and 25 years. Where the local authority is satisfied that there is a social housing need for the completed units, an upfront loan, up to a maximum of €60,000 (including VAT) per unit, is provided to owners of properties which have been vacant for over a year to fund work to bring the units up to the required standard for rental properties. The cost of repairs is offset against reduced lease payments to the property owner and therefore has a neutral cost to the Exchequer.
