Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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1639. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the specific regulatory, planning, or zoning obstacles that discourage the conversion of vacant upper floors of commercial buildings into residential units in city centre areas such as O’Connell Street, Henry Street and Grafton Street, Dublin, and equivalent streets in other Irish cities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43827/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Addressing vacancy and dereliction in order to provide increased delivery of new housing stock is a key priority for Government and a broad package of measures have been put in place to support increased housing supply and drive the regeneration of our town and city centres.

Specifically to assist and encourage the conversion of commercial floorspace to residential accommodation, the Planning and Development (Amendment) Regulations 2018, S.I. No. 30/2018 were introduced to provide for an exemption from the need to obtain planning permission for such developments, including vacant above ground floor premises. These Exempted Development Regulations were extended in 2022, to also include former pubs and provide for up to a total of nine residential units per development. Up to the end of 2024, local authorities nationally received 1,457 notifications from developers intending to avail of this planning exemption which, if fully carried out, would result in 3,429 new homes across the country.

To support this change of use Exempted Development Regulations, my Department also published an updated “Bringing Back Homes Manual” in 2024, which provides property owners, members of the public, Local Authorities and those involved in the construction industry with clear practical guidance on the refurbishment of existing buildings for residential use and how current regulatory requirements that apply to common, existing building types can be met.

The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant introduced in July 2022, provides a grant of up to €50,000 for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent. A top-up grant of up to €20,000 is available where the property is confirmed to be derelict, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €70,000. In order to qualify for the grant, the property must be vacant for two years or more at the time of application. Vacant commercial or public use buildings, including above the shop vacant premises are currently eligible for the grant, subject to meeting the eligibility requirements of the scheme.

My Department is also supporting local authorities through the €2 billion Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) which is funding critical regeneration and infrastructure projects across the country in our town and cities. In particular, Call 3 of the URDF provided a €150 million revolving fund for local authorities to enable them, where appropriate, to acquire long term vacant or derelict properties in URDF-eligible towns and cities and bring them back into long term use as homes or for other purposes.

A Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) Activation Programme was launched by my Department in April 2023. The Programme supports a proactive and systematic approach by local authorities to the re-use of vacant and derelict properties. It also includes guidance for local authorities to actively use their legislative powers, including under the Derelict Sites Act, to acquire vacant and derelict properties, where engagement with owners has been unsuccessful. Support and guidance on implementation of the Programme is being provided to local authorities by the Vacant Homes Unit in my Department and by the Property Optimisation Unit in the Housing Agency.

The Conservation Advice Grant Scheme for Vacant Traditional Houses is a funding scheme which also supports above the shop living. Grants are available for expert conservation advice to owners of vacant traditional houses who are availing of, or considering, the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant - including over the shop type spaces.

Specific staffing resources are provided by my Department through funding of €60,000 per annum to support each local authority's Vacant Homes Office, including a Vacant Homes Officer (VHO). This was increased from €50,000 in 2022 and reinforces the capacity of local authorities to ensure a dedicated focus on tackling vacancy and dereliction. VHOs working in collaboration with wider local authority teams are employing the supports, programmes and funding schemes available to remove barriers and obstacles to sustainably delivering increased homes in urban centres across the Country.

Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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1640. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of planning applications approved for converting commercial properties to residential use in Dublin city centre since 2020, by year and development type, in tabular form ; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43828/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Turning vacant properties into occupied homes is a key pillar of the Government’s Housing for All Plan. 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 planning exemptions are one of a suite of measures to encourage potential homeowners to convert vacant commercial buildings to residential use such as ‘above shop’ living, to increase housing supply and drive the regeneration of our town centres.

A limit of a total nine residential units per development can be provided under this planning exemption. The Regulations require the developer to notify the planning authority at least two weeks prior to the commencement of such a proposed change of use and related works.

Up to the end of 2024, local authorities nationally received 1,457 notifications from developers intending to avail of this planning exemptions. If fully carried out, these notifications would result in 3,429 new homes across the country. Dublin City Council had the highest number of 153 such exemption notifications received between 2018-2024, which would provide 445 homes, if fully enacted.

Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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1641. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if current development plans and protected structure regulations are acting as barriers to converting underused commercial buildings into homes in historic urban areas; if he is reviewing planning guidelines to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43829/25]

Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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1642. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the steps being taken to support local authorities in identifying and unlocking vacant or underused space in city centres for residential use, particularly through changes to development plans, fast-track processes, or use of section 28 guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43830/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1641 and 1642 together.

The Government’s ‘Town Centre First’ (TCF) Policy was launched by my Department and the then Department of Rural and Community Development in 2022, and provides a whole-of-government policy framework to address the decline in the health of towns and support measures to revitalise them. To drive the delivery of Town Centre First, a number of national structures and supports were established, including a network of Town Regeneration Officers (TROs) throughout the Local Government sector. These officers manage and lead the local TCF efforts, and collaborate with existing resources and stakeholders to ensure an integrated approach is taken within the Local Authorities.

TROs are working in concert with the wider local authority teams focused on regeneration and town revitalisation, supported by the National TCF Office. The TROs also support local communities in the preparation of their TCF Plans and provide information and assistance in the drawdown of various new and existing funding streams to support the implementation of these Plans on the ground.

Tackling vacancy is a key action of the Town Centre First Policy and TROs are working in close co-operation with full-time Vacant Homes Officers now also present in each local authority. The Vacant Homes Unit in my Department has published the ‘Vacant Homes Action Plan’ to draw together a number of vacancy related measures across relevant Government Departments. In March 2025, I published the 2025 Progress Report which shows the significant progress that is being made in tackling vacancy and it is available on my Department's website at the following link:www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/vacant-homes-action-plan-2023-2026/

In addition, where local authorities find that the acquisition of particular derelict properties is the appropriate mechanism to return them to use, they are now supported through the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), which has established a €150 million revolving fund for local authorities to acquire vacant or derelict properties (residential and/or commercial), using their compulsory purchase powers where necessary and to carry out any associated works needed to make them more attractive for re-use or sale.

On completion of the most recent review of this element of the URDF programme, a total of 1,297 residential and commercial properties were approved by my Department for inclusion on the approved programmes for all 31 local authorities.

A Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) Activation Programme was also launched by my Department in April 2023. The Programme supports a proactive and systematic approach by local authorities to the activation of vacant and derelict properties. It also includes guidance for local authorities to actively use their legislative powers, including under the Derelict Sites Act, to acquire vacant and derelict properties, where engagement with owners has been unsuccessful. Support and guidance on implementation of the Programme is being provided to local authorities by the Vacant Homes Unit in my Department and by the Property Optimisation Unit in the Housing Agency.

My Department also introduced a change to the Planning and Development Regulations in 2018, that provides an exemption from the need to obtain planning permission for the change of use of certain vacant commercial buildings to residential use, including ‘above the shop’ living. The most recent local authority returns from 2024 show that local authorities have received notifications of 1,457 exempted development proposals to date, with plans put forward to result in the provision of 3,429 new homes nationwide.

These exemptions can be combined with other vacant property supports such as the ‘Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant’ (VPRG) under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund and also the ‘Repair and Leasing Scheme’ operated by my Department. At the end of Q1 2025, over 12,400 applications have been received for the VPRG with over 8,600 approved and over 2,000 grants paid to date as refurbishment works have been completed. Further information on the range of supports is also available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/campaigns/doors-open/

A review of the current Exempted Development Regulations is ongoing, and having recently engaged with Government Bodies, a wider public consultation on the exempted development regulations will be undertaken shortly. It should be note that any update to Exempted Development Regulations will require positive resolutions by both Houses of the Oireachtas before it can be signed into law.

As set out in Part IV of the Planning and Development Act (2000), planning authorities have primary responsibility for the protection of architectural heritage within their functional area. The mechanisms through which they can exercise this function include designating architectural conservation areas and protected structures, adding relevant objectives to development plans, and protecting character through the development management and enforcement processes. Conservation grants are also available to owners under the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) and the Historic Structures Fund (HSF), which are funded by my Department and administered in the main by the local authority. As well as supporting conservation works, my Department funds the provision of expert conservation advice in respect of vacant traditional houses through the Conservation Advice Grants stream of the HSF. Such supports are appropriately assisting the sustainable use of our built heritage as new homes.

The new Programme for Government ‘Securing Ireland’s Future’ includes actions that will further continue work on dereliction and regeneration challenges. For example, it includes a commitment to resourcing the TCF model and to establishing a Town Regeneration Team in every local authority by bringing together Town Regeneration Officers, Vacant Homes Officers and other key staff. As part of this work my Department will continue to engage with a range of stakeholders in an effort to identify and address further barriers to the conversion of vacant or under-used premises to housing stock.