Mr. Pat McCormack:

We are delighted to have the opportunity to contribute because we are at a time of unprecedented pressure on housing in this country. Obviously, the war in Ukraine has exacerbated that and we have seen contentious issues because a lot of Irish people need accommodation. In February, it was estimated that 11,754 Irish people needed accommodation. The CSO figures also from spring indicate an excess of 12,000 vacant farm houses, either derelict of semi-derelict. The vacant property refurbishment grant could do a lot in this regard. These are houses that are part of our heritage. They are very much integrated within rural Ireland but the planning process is extremely frustrating for any individual or family who have done down the route of repairing and expanding a derelict or semi-derelict house. It is both expensive and cumbersome. It is very easy to spend €15,000 to €20,000 in the planning process before any works are done. As we move forward, vacant, derelict and semi-derelict houses can deliver a substantial housing in a short period.

These houses can be in excess of 100 years old and might not be the most efficient from a layout perspective with thick walls, etc. The 40 sq. m exemption needs to be increased on these houses to bring them practically up to standard for today's living. The 13 month deadline from approval should be changed. The ICMSA believes it should be doubled and be at least two years to get works done and have the work complete. Something that farm families we have liaised with over the past number of weeks and months have raised is the live or rent for a ten-year period is an extremely long period in any farm family or individual's life and we believe that should be the same as the targeted agricultural modernisation schemes, TAMS, with a five-year compliance perspective.

The Heritage Council grant is available to those who are under the agri-climate rural environment scheme, ACRES, to do up farm buildings and we believe derelict farm houses should be part of that as well. There is huge potential to deliver in the short term form a tourism perspective. Mr. Rush referred to rural communities. The rural publican, the rural shop and the rural hotelier come under pressure every day. I heard this morning in the car on the radio that the Brennan brothers are moving out of tourism and I wish them well. It is a sign of what is out there - a shortage of people to come in, a shortage of infrastructure in rural Ireland for people to stay in, and indeed a shortage of housing for those who work in the hospitality and agricultural sectors that Mr. Rushe alluded to.

The first-time buyer's scheme is a noble scheme and that go further than where it currently is and be rolled out further for the purchase of old houses or, indeed, old houses to renovate as well if we are serious about utilising the existing infrastructure within the community and ultimately to house people in the community with minimum impact both physically and visually.

We look forward to questions and answers and interaction as the evening progresses.