Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This was at a time when there was a housing shortage.

The other issue I want to deal with relates to whether the Department has had any engagement with the banks recently. I wrote to all of the banks about the vacant properties. Only two banks replied to me, Bank of Ireland and AIB. The latter confirmed that it has 87 vacant properties currently and is dealing with local authorities. I am wondering if the Department has engaged with the banks recently about vacant properties. The reason I am raising this is that there are four properties that I am aware of that have been vacant for more than ten or 12 years. Everyday Finance has a property that has been vacant for more than 13 years. It will not even respond to my letters. Has the Department engaged with the banks recently on this matter? I am talking about financial institutions like Everyday Finance.