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

I thank Mr. Reidy. I have a huge issue with dereliction in Cork. Recently, the Good Shepherd Convent was burned down for the third time. I am talking about major fires. There have been dozens of fires on the site, which puts fire brigade officers and emergency services people at risk. There have been fires in the former Sunset Ridge Hotel, the St. Kevin's hospital site and Vita Cortex in the past and these are all derelict sites. Will the council be more aggressive? It said a CPO has been placed on 22 properties. All four of those however - definitely Good Shepherd convent, the Sunset Ridge Hotel and Vita Cortex - should be compulsorily purchased. There are 110 derelict sites on the council's derelict sites register. I reckon the figure is at least treble that. We need to be more aggressive with tackling these landholders who are destroying, and having negative impacts on, communities. People feel angry when people are homeless or fighting to keep a roof over their heads and then they see buildings that have been derelict for decades. Some buildings have been on the council's derelict sites register for the 32 years it was set up. Is the council going to be more aggressive in tackling dereliction?