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

I thank the witnesses. I have been watching online. It is great to have the witnesses here to pick their brains and get their thoughts.

I will first ask the OPR about a comment in its submission that it strongly welcomes the increased capacity of local authorities to utilise compulsory purchase orders, CPOs, to acquire derelict or vacant properties for onward sale and to play a stronger part in activation. Numerous local authorities have appeared before the committee last year and this year. The one excuse we heard was that CPOs are complicated. I accept that is so, but when I look at the amount of dereliction and number of vacant properties - estimates are between 96,000 and 166,000 vacant properties - CPOs will have to play a much greater part for local authorities to be able to deliver these derelict and vacant sites for housing. Local authorities should be using the sites for housing themselves, but either way we must tackle the issue much more assertively or aggressively with CPOs. Will the witnesses comment on that?