Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the guests. I will speak about the living city initiative. I am interested in hearing comments from Mr. Shakespeare but not about Dublin, which has been well covered this morning. I am thinking more about my city of Waterford. We are probably following the same narrative as other cities at the moment in trying to develop remote working opportunities, seeking to expand digital hubs and, hopefully, retain some of the outdoor amenity space we are developing, as well as developing public transport, access and all of that. I agree with what Ms Farrelly said. Much of this is predicated on jobs. It is basically a chicken and egg situation. If a place is not invested in, how can economic activity be created to drive job creation within it?

The living city initiative is not working in Waterford. The reason for this is largely economic but we also have many old, listed buildings. There is no benefit in giving property owners a tax break because there is no money to be made out of it in terms of a rental yield. The question is how we get these properties back into use. There are two hotels in Waterford at the moment, both of which are derelict. The property owners are sitting on them and waiting for a market bounce. In one case in particular, the economic tide has turned and one would imagine the owners would get going but the properties are sitting there despite dereliction notices and so on, which are not having the desired effect. Does Mr. Shakespeare have any strategies for moving that type of situation on?