Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Johnston.

I have a question for Ms Sherry and Dr. O'Connor who mentioned in their opening statements that there are 450 derelict units within 2 km of Cork city centre. There is a definition of a derelict site under the Act. Did the witnesses stick closely to that definition? It is my experience dealing at local authority level that often when a site is to be a deemed to be a derelict site, the director of services or somebody else in the council takes the view that proving that would be very difficult. What has been the experience of the witnesses? I am sure they did not simply look at sites and deem them to be derelict. Did they apply the strict criteria that the department of services member of a local authority would have to apply because it is a legal definition?