Vincent P Martin (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the senior officials from the local authorities for their attendance. It is appropriate that the councils represented are those of Meath and Kildare because the two counties have much in common and have dovetailing interests. Apart from the counties' proximity, many of the challenges they face are the same. I will concentrate in my remarks on my home county of Kildare. Our guests are no strangers to me and I am not surprised they have exceeded their targets. I congratulate Ms Kavanagh on her recent appointment as CEO. I was pleased on a personal level to see her succeed to that job. I saw at first hand and up close the input she had as a senior director in dealing with an obstacle that was there for years in regard to the De Burgh lands. We now have one of the best urban parklands in Ireland, thanks in no small way to Ms Kavanagh and Ms Aspell. They are both very well respected in their fields.

Kildare County Council has exceeded its targets, as I said. On a normal day, that would be really special but, without meaning any disrespect, it slightly pales into insignificance due to the crisis we face. The witnesses probably are not getting the credit they deserve for meeting their targets. The council has put forward projections for the years to come. Given that impressive track record, is there any chance we can ask counties that are exceeding their targets to extend them and excel further? I am not asking the witnesses to commit to that today but will they indicate whether they are all the time looking around to top the poll and be leaders in the current crisis? Are their projections, in fact, ever so slightly conservative? That is my first question.

As I noted, Kildare County Council not only reached its projections but went over them by a few hundred. However, no local authority cost-rental provision has been set out in its action plan. Will the witnesses elaborate on the reason they gave for that and indicate whether it might change once staffing resources are increased? That question might also be relevant to the witnesses from Meath. How do our guests appraise and see the future of the Vienna model, which, in my view, can be a lifeline for many? I would love to see it being used much more. All things being equal, does Kildare County Council have plans in that regard?

My final question is for the witnesses from both authorities. Given the crisis, is there room to think outside the box in terms of dereliction? Are there approaches that might not be obvious? I am thinking, for example, of the former Red House Hotel in Naas. The witnesses from Kildare County Council might comment on that or perhaps talk to me about it after the meeting. I do not want them to put them on the spot and I understand if they do not want to address it today. There is huge potential in that site. All housing that can be delivered is needed. This is the sort of momentous project involving an unused building that needs money to complete it.

I am sorry if my questions have not concentrated enough on issues to do with my neighbours in Meath. As I said at the outset, it is wonderful to have the witnesses from both authorities at the meeting. It is a good exercise to have them here. They have both done well but, to put it in a nice way, it keeps everyone on their toes to have this type of engagement. I hope the Chairperson will continue that engagement and we will have the witnesses back here again and, we hope, reporting more positive progress. Let the word go out to every local authority that its representatives may have to come before the committee. We represent Ireland and it is important to be aware that this crisis does not recognise county borders or provinces. I thank the witnesses for their contributions. I had other questions but they were stolen by previous speakers and ably answered by our guests.