Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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1617. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to provide an estimate of the average renovation cost for local authorities of vacant properties. [43568/25]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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1618. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to provide an estimate of the average renovation cost for local authorities of derelict properties. [43569/25]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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1619. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to provide an estimate of the average conversion cost for local authorities to turn commercial properties into residential units. [43570/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1617 to 1619, inclusive, together.

Local Authorities (LA's) and Approved Housing Bodies (AHB's) are supported by my Department to purchase and renovate vacant/derelict properties (including former commercial units) to be upgraded as new, value-for-money social homes.

The Buy & Renew Scheme allows LA's and AHB's to acquire and refurbish such properties and since it was introduced in 2016, in excess of 950 properties have been delivered under this arrangement, as new social homes.

In 2024, 37 units were returned to use as new social homes at an average cost of €283,364 per unit. This figure represents the amounts paid out to date by my Department and is subject to change as further claims for refurbishment works are received.

The Social Housing Investment Programme (SHIP) and Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) which are the main capital programmes that support LA's and AHB's in the development of social housing, also provides them with full funding to acquire and renew/re-model existing vacant/derelict/commercial properties, effectively obsolete properties in need of more substantial capital investment, with a view to the delivery of new build social homes. There is no cap or restriction on the extent to which this approach may be used by local authorities, other than the individual projects being reasonable value for money.

Urban Regeneration and Development Fund

Under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) a third round of funding to address long-term vacancy and dereliction, and support the key objectives of Housing for All and Town Centre First, was announced in January 2023. A shift in focus from previous rounds of funding, Call 3 provided a €150 million revolving fund for local authorities to acquire long-term vacant or derelict properties in URDF eligible towns and cities.

Acquired properties are then offered by local authorities for private sale at market value to those who in return will commit to bringing the property back into residential use. Proceeds from the sale of these properties will be used to replenish the fund, allowing a local authority to establish a rolling programme to tackle long-term vacancy and dereliction without a requirement for borrowing and the associated financial risk.

In terms of URDF funding provided under Call 3, €142.5 million has been allocated to local authorities to date. As a signal of Government commitment to this initiative local authorities received 20% of their financial allocations by way of forward funding, so that they were well resourced to begin addressing this issue.

In addition to the properties purchase price, 100% of the associated costs, up to a maximum of €30,000, is also being made available under the programme to cover vouched expenditure on costs associated with the purchase and onward disposal/sale of the property and the costs of any minor de risking or enabling works which make the property more attractive for sale e.g. clearing up and around the property, creating easy access to the property, carrying out opening up works to allow for inspection of services & structures, commissioning reports etc.

The key objective of URDF Call 3 is to ensure properties are brought out of vacancy and dereliction. The aim is for local authorities to acquire and then dispose of properties as quickly as possible to a buyer that will be in a position to further renovate or develop the property.

Voids Programme

The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. Local authorities also have a legal obligation to ensure that all of their tenanted properties are compliant with the provisions of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations, 2019.

Notwithstanding the legal obligation on local authorities to manage and maintain their own stock, my Department provides annual funding support to local authorities for management and maintenance under the current Planned Maintenance/Voids Programme.

A breakdown of the funding received by each local authority and the number of properties that were remediated can be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link:

www.gov.ie/en/collection/0906a-other-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics/#voids-programme

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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1620. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to provide an estimate of the number of vacant commercial properties that could be converted into residential units in the greater Dublin area, and in the cities of Galway, Cork and Limerick. [43571/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Planning and Development (Amendment) Regulations 2018, S.I. No. 30/2018, currently provide for an exemption from the need to obtain planning permission for the change of use of certain vacant commercial buildings, including vacant above ground floor premises, to residential use such as ‘above shop’ living. These Exempted Development Regulations were extended in 2022, to also include former pubs and to extend the timeframe for these exemptions to apply up to the end of 2025.

The Regulations require the developer to notify the planning authority at least two weeks prior to the commencement of any proposed change of use and related works.

The most recent figures, which are available on my Department’s website, show how these exemptions are helping to tackle the problem of vacancy, maximise the use of our existing building stock for much-needed housing supply and revitalise our town centres, as part of the government’s ‘Housing for All’ plan and ‘Town Centre First’ policy approach.

Since 2018, when the exemptions were first introduced, local authorities have received 1,457 notifications relating to the provision of 3,429 new homes.

In 2024 alone, local authorities received notifications of 292 exempted development proposals with plans put forward to result in the provision of 713 new dwellings. Since the exemption was extended to pubs in 2022, 154 notifications relating to pub conversions were received by local authorities with the intention to create 459 new homes.

While my Department does not hold data in respect of the quantum of vacant commercial floorspace that would be suitable for residential conversion, the above information indicates a strong performance of the planning exemption for change of use from commercial floorspace in continuing to provide new homes sustainably in our cities, towns and urban areas.

These exemptions are just one of a range of measures designed to help people bring vacant properties back into residential use, and can be used in combination with other vacant property supports such as the ‘Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant’ and the ‘Repair and Leasing Scheme’. Further information on the range of supports available to bring a vacant or derelict property back into use is available on my Department’s website at: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/campaigns/bring-a-vacant-or-derelict-property-back-into-use/