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

"Yes" and "no". The exemptions here will make it more viable for some of these properties to be brought back into use because owners do not have to go through the whole planning process for change of use and incur the costs involved in doing that. They do not have to pay contribution levies, planning fees and so on which makes it more viable to bring the properties back into use. It should make it more attractive. Local authorities were not asked to give us any indications on this. This is not a scheme that will be driven by local authorities. It is a scheme aimed at the owners of the properties and involves giving them a planning exemption to make it more viable and more straightforward for them to bring their properties back into use. The costs of doing that and the funding for same is their own business if it is a private development. If they want to use the property for social housing, however, it becomes our business. Schemes have been put in place which local authorities can use, including repair and lease back, purchase and renew and so on. I am not happy that such schemes are not being used more and agree with Senator Murnane O'Connor on that point. One can point the finger left, right and centre but the fact remains that it is not happening.