Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome today's announcement on the expansion of the scheme that was piloted in Carlow and Waterford. It will, in the main, apply to existing commercial properties and will allow them to be converted for residential use. I accept that construction costs that would be involved in those works are excessive enough in their own right.

However, the certification and compliance costs, especially in this instance, are crucial. The assigned certifier system is excessive in cost. We believe it should be replaced by local authorities in an effort to reduce those costs, improve local authority revenue, get units in place and reduce rents. I am particularly conscious of over-the-shop developments, the difficulties regarding disabled access and certification in this regard and fire certificates. Assigned certifiers may not be in a position to sign off on these certificates unless these compliance issues are addressed.

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