Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I have about ten question, so I will be brief. I will probably contribute again in the next round. I hear what has been said about encouragement and taking a carrot approach with building owners. We have a housing crisis and a substantial amount of vacancy and dereliction for various reasons. It is not a simple issue. Those who say it is a simple issue do not know what they are talking about. There are many reasons for buildings and homes being vacant. The figures cited range from 160,000 down to 60,000, but somewhere in between lies the truth. We need to apply the stick as well because people will often leave a building vacant and derelict and do nothing with it because there are no consequences. I know Dublin City Council introduced a zero rebate for commercial rates last night. People are now charged full commercial rates on a vacant building. What are the commercial rates on vacant buildings in Kildare and Meath?