Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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259. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures his Department is taking to address vacant or derelict retail units in small towns and villages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21186/24]

Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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My Department does not provide any specific grants or supports to businesses for the refurbishment of vacant or derelict properties.

I understand that several Local Authorities do offer a range of grants to businesses to encourage them to occupy vacant commercial premises within their local authority area.

On the topic of vacant property more generally, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has convened a Working Group on the Redevelopment of Vacant Commercial Properties, which includes my Department. The objective of the group is to assess and make recommendations on the potential for the development of vacant commercial properties for housing.