Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

All members of this committee have been very strong on trying to reinvigorate towns and villages across the country. One of the biggest challenges of local authorities is trying to track down the owners of properties. That is why, in recent times, local authorities have been engaging with organisations like Finders International Ireland.

I acknowledge this important work because many town centres and villages have premises that are a blight on the community, bearing in mind that we are in the middle of a housing crisis. Tracking down the owners of properties and having them redeveloped, through compulsory purchase or other mechanisms, is a vital community service right across the country.

I thank our guests again for their time, their engagement and the evidence they have given to the committee. We might seek additional information from them as we consider this legislation further. We look forward to their response on the evidence from the UK. We will take the issue of access to the Land Commission records up with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.