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

Returning to a point made by Senator Cummins in relation to voids and the length of time they are vacant, it is good to hear that local authorities were in the 20s and that they are trying to get back there. We should have targets in this regard. Local authority properties should be vacant for only 20 weeks or 24 weeks. It should be a reasonable amount of time. Something I see in the context of Cork City Council, and it has arisen with a few other local authorities as well, is the issue of getting funding from the Minister and the Department. Cork City Council has received an allocation of funding to get 144 properties returned to use. That council, however, has more than 500 voids.

Something I have been suggesting, and hopefully the committee will put this forward as a recommendation, is the ability for local authorities to repair properties as soon as they become aware of an issue and then claim the money back from the Department without the need to send emails and provide details of the number of voids at any specific time. Would it be an asset for local authorities to be able to do this? From the perspective of the witnesses, how do their county councils get funding back? Is it necessary to get permission from the Department first and then do the work? If so, would the other way that I have suggested not be better?