Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In any town or village in the country, the vacancy rates are significant. One cannot but notice them. People are not leaving premises vacant for any reason other than insufficient income. If it is a question of applying no rates remission for vacant properties, what would be the knock-on effect? There would be no loss of income, as the local authorities would be flat out going through the District Court trying to get money that is not there in the first place. Deputy Stanley is right, in that it is a question of how to turn this situation around and use those premises. Some of this relates to the car parking issue, which is decimating some areas. I do not see how there could be a potential loss of revenue. In fact, this provision could cost a fortune in terms of administration, District Court time and so on without accruing a great deal of additional income, given the levels of vacancy.