Plans for vacant commercial premises to be used to tackle the housing crisis throughout Ireland have been brought forward.

Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy and the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development Damien English brought forward the proposals.

It is the first step in the approval process for the relevant regulations, as set out in the Planning Act, which requires the draft regulations to be referred to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government for its consideration with a view to their subsequent approval by both Houses by way of positive resolution before they can be signed into law by the Minister.

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Minister Murphy said: "These draft regulations, if approved by the Oireachtas, will allow the change of use of certain vacant commercial premises such as empty shops and 'over the shop' type spaces to residential use without the need for planning permission. This will have the dual benefit of facilitating the bringing on stream of urgently needed housing supply in high demand areas while simultaneously breathing new life into inner-core urban areas many of which have been adversely affected by the economic downturn.

"The Government is fully committed to bringing as many vacant properties as possible back into use and maximising the use of existing resources. These new regulations will make it easier for property owners to re-imagine the use of vacant and under-used buildings without having to go through the planning process and are the first of a series of measures being developed by my Department to streamline the various regulatory requirements relating to the conversion of vacant spaces for residential use."

(CD/MH)