Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I think we all agree that there is great potential in both schemes. What was announced today is the next phase of the repair and leasing initiative, which has been successful in Waterford and Carlow. The plan is to roll out that model. The Deputy has previously called for the model to be available in Offaly and other counties. We also want it to be available everywhere. The scheme is being progressed. A total of €32 million is secured for the scheme, but again there is potential for further roll-out if needs be because it is a successful scheme. This should be considered as one phase. There will be more to come.

To concentrate on the Deputy's question, which concerns the potential for other spaces in urban centres, again we agree with his proposal. There is great potential in it. We have flagged this in A Programme for a Partnership Government, published in May 2016, which we were all part of putting together. It sets out the ambitious priority attached to urban regeneration by the Government, incorporating a series of specific actions aimed at facilitating the regeneration of our urban centres, many of which have been adversely impacted by the economic downturn. Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, published in July 2016, further reinforces the Government's commitment to urban regeneration.

Pillar 5 of Rebuilding Ireland is specifically focused on utilising existing housing stock, with a key objective of ensuring the existing vacant housing stock throughout the country and across all forms of tenure, in both the public and private sectors, is used to the optimum degree possible. Deputy Cowen and I discussed the scheme today and earlier in the week as well.

In this context and further to Action 5.11 of Rebuilding Ireland, a working group which I chair and which involves senior representatives from my Department and many other Departments, local authorities and other relevant actors has been established to bring forward proposals for new urban regeneration measures as early as possible. It is intended that the new measures will complement the existing regeneration activities under my Department's social housing capital programme as well as other initiatives.

Owners of vacant commercial units in urban areas, including vacant or under-utilised areas over ground-floor premises, face a number of regulatory requirements, exactly as Deputy Cowen said, to advance projects for their re-use for residential purposes. Such requirements may include planning permission and building control approval as well as requirements regarding protected structures, which can present regulatory barriers to the re-utilisation of vacant commercial space for residential purposes.

As part of its deliberations in the working group and in line with the Rebuilding Ireland commitment, we are reviewing planning legislation to allow the change of use of vacant commercial premises in urban areas, including vacant or under-utilised areas over ground-floor premises, into residential units without having to go through the planning process. Such vacant units could then potentially be brought into productive and beneficial use for housing purposes earlier than might otherwise be the case. We expect the working group to publish and finish this report in the second quarter of this year because we recognise that this is urgent.

Separately, my Department, working with Dublin City Council in the context of the living city initiative, is exploring the potential for further streamlining the approach to redeveloping and re-utilising vacant properties. In this context, processes and requirements regarding planning, building control, fire safety and the conservation of historic buildings are also being considered. The working group membership includes architects, and we understand the situation. Very often it is impossible to bring these buildings back into use. We are determined to find solutions to this.

See this speech in context