Croí Cónaithe over retail units
Deputy McNamara challenged unclear replies on whether homes above operating retail units qualify for Croí Cónaithe. The Ceann Comhairle brought in the Minister of State, who confirmed they do qualify if vacant for over two years, though not for the higher derelict grant.
I again raise the potential for accommodation over retail units in all our market towns. I asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, repeatedly by way of parliamentary question whether, where the ground floor is in use consistently and the upper floors have not been in use, that qualifies for Croí Cónaithe. These are not vacant buildings because the ground floor remains and has always been in use. I asked that question and got an unclear reply, sent it back to the Ceann Comhairle, who sent it back to the Department, and got a more unclear reply back. I sent it back again, got a further unclear reply and then sent it back for the fourth time. That level of obfuscation costs a lot of money.
It is a simple question. Does it qualify or does it not? I do not expect the Taoiseach to have the answer, because it is a specific question. Will he give a commitment that I will receive an answer to the question of whether, where the ground floor is and has been in use but there is a proposal to convert the upper floors, that qualifies for Croí Cónaithe?
Comment on this
The Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, is champing at the bit to get going on this one.
Comment on this
The answer is "Yes, it does", and we will get the Deputy a written response. It is pretty straightforward. If the ground floor of a building is used for retail or as a shop and if the overhead has been vacant for more than two years, the overhead will qualify for Croí Cónaithe. It will not qualify for the higher grant of €50,000, given it will not qualify as derelict because the building is not unoccupied. We will follow up and get a written response, but I have discussed this at length with departmental officials and we will communicate it to the local authorities. We want units to be occupied, so the simple answer is "Yes".
Comment on this
I thank the Minister of State.