Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This is my first time attending a meeting of this committee. I want to be positive and constructive. We want to work together. The single biggest issue people come to me for is housing - social, affordable and affordable private rented. People want leadership and are looking to us to provide solutions. During the pandemic, my office was inundated with people on housing. I thought housing was a problem before the election but it is much worse now.

The Minister's Estimates include extra investment into vacant properties for local authorities. Cork City Council almost got down to 100 vacant properties approximately 18 months ago but that has increased to over 300. Why not just give it the money to do the work without having to apply to draw down funds? Cork city and county councils have really good housing departments, as the last Minister noted. There are hundreds of derelict properties in Cork city and county but the local authorities do not have the money to compulsory purchase the sites. I ask the Minister to give the local authorities funds to do this. There is a property, an old butcher shop in Blarney Street in Cork city, which has lain empty for about 30 years. How can that be right? They are in Blackpool, Barrack Street, and right across the city and county. I come here with solutions. These are properties that could be turned around quickly to get people housed.

Finally, there is positive news on the disabled people's grants but it is still taking too long. Many people have issues, especially local authority tenants, having funding turned around as quickly as possible. We must protect people with disabilities, especially during the pandemic. I will continue to be positive and look for solutions. That is what we are here for.