Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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182. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the measures being taken by his Department to address the disturbing levels of commercial property vacancies (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42757/17]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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The economic downturn had a significant negative impact on many urban centres, including towns and villages, with many commercial businesses having been forced to cease operations due to the decline in economic activity. This has impacted on our urban streetscape, resulting in increased rates of commercial property vacancies.

In recognition of this, the Programme for a Partnership Government, published in May 2016, set out the ambitious priority now attached to the area of urban renewal generally with a view to breathing life back into urban centres and helping to make them more attractive places in which to live and work.

In this regard, a Ministerial-led Urban Renewal Working Group, which I chaired, was established to bring forward proposals for new urban regeneration measures in respect of which initial funding was announced in this week's Budget.  It is intended that the new scheme, details of which will be announced once finalised, will complement a range of other urban renewal related actions already underway including the existing regeneration programme under my Department's Social Housing Capital Programme.

The renewal of Ireland's towns and villages is also the subject of focused attention under the Government's Action Plan for Rural Development, launched in January 2017, including an enhanced Town and Village Renewal Scheme in respect of which my colleague the Minister for Rural and Community Development last week announced increased funding for 2018, with a particular emphasis on stimulating economic development in rural towns and villages.

In addition, the Programme for a Partnership Government includes a commitment to examine reclassifying and incentivising the use of under-utilised or vacant premises in urban areas. Specifically, Action 5.9 of of the Government's Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan on Housing and Homlessness commits to reviewing planning legislation to allow the change of use of vacant commercial units in urban areas, including vacant or under-utilised areas over ground-floor premises, into residential units without having to go through the planning process. This proposal is also incorporated in Action 6 of the Action Plan for Rural Development.  My Department is currently progressing the drafting of the necessary revisions to the Planning Regulations to give effect to this action and it is expected that draft Regulations will be submitted for Oireachtas approval by end-October 2017.

Furthermore, my Department has recently established a multi-disciplinary working group to prepare additional building control guidance for local authorities and the construction sector with a view to better facilitating the re-use or development of under-used or vacant buildings within the context of the existing building control regulatory requirements.