A scheme aimed at tackling dereliction, which was announced last month, is set to be expanded from June of next year.
Tánaiste and Finance Minister Simon Harris told the Dáil this evening that the scheme is currently available in Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick and Waterford but will soon involve Athlone, Sligo, Drogheda, Dundalk and Letterkenny.
The scheme, which provides targeted tax incentives to encourage investment and bring vacant or underused buildings back into use, has been extended until 2030.
It has also been expanded to cover properties built before 1975, and it will now also support the conversion of "over-the-shop" premises for residential use and, it's hoped, help to revitalise older urban areas.
The Tánaiste said the expansion would happen in June and open to applications shortly after.
"The first step is to engage with the local authorities and I will write to them all this week or early next week. We will set a deadline of the end of January to revert to us with their proposals – a map - of where in the town should be covered," he said.
"The Living City Initiative is a real opportunity to try and encourage people to come back into the towns and live in our town," he added.
The expansion of the scheme is being introduced as part of the Finance Bill, which the Tánaiste is currently bringing through the Oireachtas.
