Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The meanwhile use of the buildings has also arisen during the discussions of the implementation group on the night-time economy task force. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is leading on this policy area and will be keeping the implementation group informed on progress. That Department will be key to delivery on these two areas, including the agents of change. It is leading on this important action in the task force report and it is making progress in this regard. As part of the work, that Department will examine the practical implications for planning and other legislative codes to enable the potential for vacant buildings to be used for meanwhile use. It is hoped that this will lead to more opportunities for the late-night sector and breathe life into these vacant spaces. This work is under way.

I also acknowledge those local authorities and developers who, on occasion, make properties available for meanwhile use as artists' workspaces. It is important also to support the delivery of a greater number of workspaces through the widest range of measures. This informed my announcement of support for Dublin City Council's ambitious plans last year. I will shortly make a further announcement of a new support for local authorities for artists' workspaces.

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