Proposals to allow a new category of studio apartments to be built in the city have been revealed.
If approved vacant spaces above city centre shops could end up being transformed into compact apartments.
These new category of studios would be 20 per cent smaller than the current minimum size, which is 592 sq feet.
Apart from going into older buildings with derelict upper floors they'll only be permitted in schemes of more than 100 apartments built in the inner city or docklands.
They'll be for renters only, owner occupiers won't be able to live in them.
Draft plans will go on display next month for 10 weeks for public consultation.
Dublin North Inner City Councillor Nial Ring has welcomed the plans.
"Around the inner city there's a lot of shops being used but the upstairs of the shops are vacant. This will encourage more life into the inner city and give people a chance to have a place of their own."
