John Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the perceived versus the actual and the guidance on older buildings, it is a topic I have done a huge amount of work on in my county. Mr. Nestor touched in the opening round on the fact much of it can be got around in bringing older buildings back into use. There are still difficulties with some and it seems there is a conflict involving one arm of the Department that is trying to activate older buildings over shops, derelict pubs and former commercial units. We have introduced new exemptions from planning to turn vacant pubs into residential developments of below ten units and we put that threshold on it for a reason. Obviously, everything has to comply with fire guidance. Is there not a conflict still in certain areas where the difficulty is the fabric and make-up of an old building in a city centre is hamstrung by some of the guidance?