Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

This is important. I will signal that what things are used for can matter. One area where that has been important relates to cultural activity, where there is a change of use from cultural activity, which may be a commercial cultural activity. When things are given planning permission, it is often because it involves a look to how they will contribute to the area and space. In San Francisco, London and elsewhere, for example, restrictions around change of use are being looked at where something has had a cultural purpose, even if it was a retail or commercial cultural purpose, so it is not simply a matter of making more money by selling something else. That affects the balance of amenities within an area. It is an issue that can be relevant.

One very significant aspect of change of use is referenced in section 7(d), which relates to change of use of houses in rent pressure zones from long-term to short-term lettings. We will discuss that issue in more detail under section 8.