Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for his support and note the points he has raised. These units will be vacant for two years or more so rates should not be an issue. We do not want people moving out of commercial into residential because they will get a planning exemption and move on with nine units. Criteria will be set under that. Notification will go to the local authority. I want to keep this simple, as the Senator does.

On the idea of providing lists, notifications and various things, take Dún Laoghaire in the Senator's bailiwick. We have lots of vacant commercial property there and lots of above-shop that is empty. We have to get on with it now try to keep it as simple as possible.

There is a specific condition. In the statutory instrument, it states "No development shall consist of or comprise the carrying out of works to a protected structure[.]" We are not talking about that type of listed building. We will keep this under review.