Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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34. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment whether he would engage with Enterprise Ireland and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to develop guidance for meanwhile use of derelict and vacant buildings for start-ups and small businesses. [62051/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Tackling vacancy is a priority for this Government. The Programme for Government, Securing Ireland’s Future, commits to addressing the issue of vacancy, including through the renovation of old buildings to promote high-density housing development in brownfield sites.

While high rates of vacancy have implications beyond enterprise, I am conscious that, from the standpoint of the broader economy, a high level of vacancy does not represent a productive use of our existing commercial infrastructure.

However, vacancy is not a straightforward topic; vacancy rates can rise, fall and otherwise shift depending on variations in economic activity as well as in response to broader economic trends and other factors, as we saw during the widespread move to remote working during the pandemic.

Development of any guidance for meanwhile use of derelict and vacant buildings would fall under the remit of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. That said, I would be open to engagement between our Departments and relevant agencies toward its development. Officials of my Department have previously participated in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage’s Working Group on the Redevelopment of Commercial Property, with a focus on the potential redevelopment of commercial buildings for residential use.