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

Councillors did not do that. This came from the finance department in Cork City Council. I will make sure our councillors raise the matter and that the finance department contacts the Minister's Department. If he has said everything is fine, I will trust him on that.

The derelict sites levy is not being collected. A total of €12.4 million should have been collected in levies over the years, but only €375,000 has been collected nationally. There are 13 local authorities not imposing any levies and 21 local authorities have not collected a single euro. We are talking about housing. I listened to the Minister and Deputy McAuliffe. We could deliver houses within months. We could solve the housing crisis. It would be better for the climate crisis if we retrofitted existing buildings and turned them into housing. It would deliver housing more quickly. Why are only 3% of derelict sites levies being collected?

The Minister is the 17th Minister with responsibility for housing since the derelict sites levy was introduced, but nothing has been done. There have been Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Ministers. Deputy Alan Kelly was also a Minister. There may have been a Green Party Minister. What is the Minister going to do about derelict sites?