Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We can do that if the Deputy wants. Every time I visit a council I ask the members to take a lead in this area and drive this agenda. I have to say that this has not happened in respect of some of the schemes we have presented. Where the repair-and-lease scheme is concerned, the ideal is for councillors, who know the people who own these properties, to go out and explain what is involved. Very often, owners need to be encouraged to bring properties forward. We want local authorities to knock on doors, inquire about properties and try to encourage their development. Councillors have a role in doing this because they generally know who the people involved. There are schemes available and there are solutions to this problem, but people have to have the will to do it.

I know that Deputy O'Dowd would like us to apply more of the stick as well as the carrot to make this happen. I am not against that if it would work. Very often, if enough carrots are put in front of people and they are encouraged to do act, the problem is dealt with better and more quickly. However, we need people to get that out and push that agenda.