Ms Caroline Timmons:

At the moment the vacancy unit is co-ordinating with the derelict sites officers in the local authorities as well as with the vacant homes officer. We are encouraging that all of those would come under one umbrella in the local authority, where possible. This is actually happening and they are reporting in through the vacant homes unit.

The issue of derelict sites is being well managed in the Department by the planning side of the Department and I believe it is co-ordination across the units that needs to happen rather than a separate unit at this point. I can, however, take this back and have a look to see what the Department's view is on that.