Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Deputy O'Dowd's points on conservation are well made and have been understood. In no way do we want to compromise conservation, no more than we want to compromise health and safety, fire certification or anything else in relation to building. What we are looking for is greater clarification around technical guidance. The example we gave on Dublin City Council and the Georgian core involves one set of guidance and criteria which applies in that sphere. It is something that could be applied on a broader scale in relation to conservation methods because the last thing we want is to make it practically and financially impossible for these buildings to come back into use. In the UK, for example, the facade is preserved and construction takes place behind it rather than having an effort to conserve every last detail. I do not have the technical expertise to make that judgment and rely on the professionalism of those who are qualified. That is why we are asking the Department to act as an agent to ensure the information is brought together and recommendations are forthcoming for legislators to adjudicate on and enact based on our constituents' representations and our knowledge of our own localities and communities. As such, we would avoid provisions which were onerous or might act as a barrier to the development we want to see revitalising and regenerating our towns and villages where nobody lives and there is clearly less desire to move given the dilapidation we see. There are other issues of property rights and legal difficulties which might arise relating to the release of these properties but that is for another Bill to investigate. The Department is going through its vacant property strategy. It was to be published in March but that is another conversation. I hope those issues are addressed in that process, which would help.