Dublin Launches Three-Year Plan to Revive Derelict Buildings for Essential Workers

A new three-year initiative has been announced to transform vacant and derelict properties in Dublin city into affordable housing for essential workers, including gardaí, teachers, and healthcare staff.

The pilot scheme will focus on Middle Abbey Street and North Frederick Street, where vacancy rates are particularly high. Property owners in these areas will be offered financial and planning supports to regenerate unused buildings. However, Dublin City Council has confirmed it will pursue enforcement measures — including compulsory purchase orders — against landlords who fail to cooperate.

Speaking on Newstalk, Richard Guiney of the business group Dublin Town welcomed the move but stressed the importance of keeping commercial use active on ground floors to support city footfall. He noted that large amounts of space above shops, such as those on Henry Street, remain unused and could be converted into attractive apartments.

The strategy, described by The Irish Times as a “bold urban-rejuvenation pilot,” is part of a wider plan to provide cost-rental housing for workers who are vital to the functioning of the city but are increasingly priced out of the local housing market.

Essential workers identified in the plan include healthcare professionals, transport and council staff, retail employees, and hospitality workers — alongside teachers and Garda members.

The project stems from the Taskforce for Dublin, a €1 billion regeneration blueprint for the O’Connell Street area unveiled last October by then-taoiseach Simon Harris. Among its ten “big moves” was the conversion of disused upper floors and vacant buildings into housing.

Councillor Cian Farrell, speaking about the first phase of the pilot, said that a digital map will be created to record the condition and potential of every building on the two pilot streets:

“We’ll have a clear picture of what’s occupied, what’s underused, the planning history, and where the opportunities lie. Without that baseline, we’d be operating blindly.”

The council hopes the pilot will serve as a template for tackling vacancy across other parts of the city, balancing urban renewal with the need to house Dublin’s essential workforce.

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