Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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199. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the degree to which he proposes, through the various local authorities, to utilise abandoned or derelict buildings in the centres of villages or towns throughout the country to meet the needs of those who require affordable or local authority houses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24548/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Tackling vacancy is a key priority for this Government and Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. The reuse and regeneration of vacant and derelict properties in cities, towns, villages and rural areas not only provides much needed housing, it can also transform and revitalise communities.

The Vacant Homes Action Plan Progress Report, which I recently published on my Department's website, outlines the significant progress that has been made in addressing vacancy, along with the actions that are being pursued to return vacant properties back into use as homes. See .

The new Town Centre First policy is now being implemented with twenty-six Town Regeneration Officers in place across local authorities and twenty-six town teams established with town plans developed, as part of the first phase of Town Centre First. Addressing vacancy and dereliction is a key feature of these plans and Town Regeneration Officers are working closely with the Vacant Homes Officers in local authorities in this regard.

The introduction of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund in July 2022, supports the objectives of the Town Centre First policy by making the refurbishment of vacant and derelict properties an affordable option for home owners and buyers, and in turn, supporting the regeneration of towns and villages throughout the country.

Another key measure in supporting bringing vacant an derelict properties into use as homes is the CPO Activation Programme. This was launched by my Department in April 2023 and provides for a proactive approach by local authorities to identifying vacant properties and engaging with the property owners to return them into residential use. This may include the use of compulsory purchase powers where necessary.

Tackling vacancy is also supported through the €150 million Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF). The Fund supports local authorities to acquire vacant or derelict properties for reuse or sale, using their compulsory purchase powers were necessary. The Fund will be replenished from the proceeds received from the sale or reuse of a site, allowing a local authority to establish a rolling programme to tackle vacancy.

In addition to URDF funding, the Social Housing Capital Funding Programmes (Social Housing Investment Programme (SHIP) and the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) support local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies to tackle dereliction and vacancy through the repurposing and renewing of vacant buildings as new social homes.

Planning regulations which exempted certain vacant commercial premises, including ‘over the shop’ type spaces, from requiring planning permission to change to residential purposes have been extended until 2025.

The most efficient home to deliver is one which already exists. I firmly believe that the commitment this Government has made to addressing vacancy and dereliction and the actions we have taken will continue to play a vital role in delivering homes and revitalising local communities.