Proposals for over-the-shop homes to come before Cabinet

Current processes are too cumbersome to make a dent on the dereliction issue, according to minister of State Peter Burke, who was meeting restaurateurs and diners at Elbow Lane on Oliver Plunkett St in Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan

Proposals to tackle dereliction and to bring over-the-shop accommodation into use will be presented to Cabinet later this year in a bid to breathe new life into city centres.

Local government and planning minister Peter Burke said current processes were too cumbersome and unstructured to make a dent in dereliction in cities such as Cork, which has seen a range of buildings fall into disrepair in recent years.