Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes, I thank the witnesses because that is a key part of this when it comes to tackling vacancy and dereliction. Making sure we have the legislative tools we need to take action and to do it as quickly as possible is key. I really welcome all the progress they are making on this and the fact that they are doing so much work analysing what research and development exists and how it could be changed or how changes could be incorporated into new bodies of new legislation to really make that happen. This committee talks all the time about the lack of data on vacancy rates across the country. Some people rely on the CSO while others rely on GeoDirectory. There is so much uncertainty in this field but what we do know is that the tools, techniques and legislation we do have are under-utilised. If we can do a body of work around reliable data, as has been discussed many times in this committee, and combine it with the kind of work the witnesses are doing, we make genuine change in this area. I thank the witnesses for all that work.