Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It does indeed. I thank Mr O'Brien.

My next question relates to the derelict sites register. In Fingal there were three properties on it as of December 2020. No additional sites were added to that and the local authority did not collect a single cent under the derelict sites levy in 2020. Six sites on the vacant sites register that are vacant now were vacant on the register in 2020. They were worth over €55 million but not a cent was collected on that. Fingal County Council is losing out on money here. Has the Department provided assistance for the collection of this money? What level of engagement has there been?

My next question is very parochial and one on which I have asked a number of parliamentary questions. I am looking for guidance and assistance from the witnesses. The HSE owns derelict houses on HSE land in Portrane in my constituency. I understand that the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has no hostility to working to get these brought back into use. Who needs to make the final decision on this? I have corresponded with the Minister. He is aware of this; it is in his own area. It needs a push to get it started. In the meantime, several houses could be brought back into use. In their day they were really decent family homes and we would like to see them brought back into use. It is not fully the responsibility of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and not fully the responsibility of the Department of Health. The Department of Health owns the land and the houses, but it does not have the capacity to do anything with them. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has the capacity but it does not own the land and houses. It just needs somebody to take the initiative on this. I have asked both Departments and both of them have said they have no problem with somebody taking an initiative but nobody is taking an initiative.