A new grant to bring long-vacant floors above shops back into use could be pivotal in delivering city-centre cost-rental homes for key workers, according to Fine Gael's Dublin spokesperson, Deputy James Geoghegan.

Geoghegan said the Vacant Above the Shop Grant is arriving at a crucial moment, as Dublin City Council advances plans to convert empty buildings in the city centre into cost-rental housing for essential workers — a model he says should now be rapidly scaled.

Deputy Geoghegan said: "We're seeing a clear shift towards using vacant buildings in the city centre to deliver cost-rental homes for key workers, and this grant gives us the financial tool to accelerate that approach.

"The space above shops is one of the most under-used housing assets in Dublin and until now, the costs meant many of these projects simply couldn't proceed."

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The scheme supports the conversion of upper floors that have been vacant for at least two years, offering up to €95,000 for a single unit with extra top-ups where multiple homes are delivered. A further €5,000 is available for professional advice, addressing feasibility-stage barriers.

Geoghegan said the support tackles practical issues faced by local authorities, approved housing bodies and private owners delivering homes in mixed-use buildings. "Fire safety upgrades, access requirements and professional fees were the reasons these buildings stayed empty. This scheme tackles those costs head-on and finally makes delivery viable."

He said the opportunity is particularly strong on core streets where vacant upper floors sit above active retail and commercial premises. "These are homes hiding in plain sight on streets like Abbey Street, Talbot Street and Dorset Street in locations that are ideal for nurses, Gardaí, teachers and other key workers who want to live close to where they work."

Unlike large-scale developments, he added, above-the-shop conversions can come forward quickly without new land, lengthy planning disputes or major infrastructure works. “If we’re serious about cost-rental in the city centre, this is how we scale it by unlocking buildings that already exist.”

Geoghegan also said that bringing residents back into city and town centres would boost safety, footfall and local businesses. "Living over the shop used to be the norm in Dublin. This grant helps make it normal again and ensures our city centre is lived-in, not hollowed out."