Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Flaherty for his support of these measures. He has made a very good point. On the vacant homes officer positions, which we are expanding through the country to make sure they are individual roles, I see the councils having a real role in this and a focus on it. We want dedicated resources across the 31 local authorities looking at the issue of vacancy. When these changes come through, we will have a campaign around it to make sure there is an awareness of what the changes mean. It will let people, especially existing owners, know what is happening. As the Deputy knows, we will be bringing in a co-ordinated campaign of compulsory purchase. That will be separate to this and will be overseen by the Housing Agency, which will use its expertise to assist local authorities. We have a number of different measures. I mentioned the Croí Cónaithe towns and villages fund, which will provide grants to potential homeowners who will be able to take vacant buildings back, do them up and live in them as their homes. That is what we want.