Brian Brennan (Wicklow-Wexford, Fine Gael)
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606. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the funding available for the renovation or renewal of vacant commercial premises; if none exists, whether he is intending to introduce or expand any schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2905/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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A key initiative under the Vacant Homes Action Plan to address vacancy and dereliction has been the introduction of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund. From May 2023, a grant of up to €50,000 is available to support individual owner(s) refurbish a vacant property into a home. Where the property is confirmed as derelict, up to a maximum of €70,000 in grant funding is available. The grant is available to individuals for the conversion of vacant properties previously used for commercial or public use to residential use, subject to planning/evidence of planning exemption.

However, no funding is available directly through my Department for the renovation or renewal of vacant commercial premises to remain as commercial use.

Some local authorities have introduced locally designed business incentive schemes which promote the use of vacant commercial property. Such schemes rely upon Part 9 of the Local Government Act 2001 which provides that the functions of local authorities include providing grants, loans guarantees or other financial aid to promote the interests of the local community, including economic interests.

Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by Tailte Éireann under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2020.

The Government recognised the need to modernise the collection of commercial rates and the Local Government Rates and Other Matters Act 2019 (LGROMA) was passed by the Oireachtas and enacted on 11 July 2019. Local authorities are levying and collecting rates under the new legal rates framework since 1 January 2024.

Section 9 of the Act provides that a local authority may provide a temporary abatement of rates for vacant properties. Vacancy refund provisions were previously in a number of now repealed enactments. Section 9 allows for greater flexibility and customisation of schemes than heretofore, allowing them to be made for class or classes of liable persons or properties, and to be used as a tool to discourage commercial vacancy.

Section 15 provides for local authorities to make schemes to support local and national policy objectives, by waiving rates in certain circumstances. This is another provision which increases the capacity of local authorities and elected members to address important issues and challenges particular to their local areas and to enable them to support specific objectives to promote community, social and economic development, urban planning or rural regeneration. The elected members have discretion to introduce waiver schemes that support objectives outlined in either county development plans, local area plans, local economic and community plans or indeed the National Planning Framework.

The introduction of both section 9 and section 15 schemes are reserved functions of elected members.