Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

It is a good point. I imagine the vacant homes officers will have a role in the identification and collation of these derelict site lists and an inspection role. It is not that the role for permissions or consents will go to the town centre first officers - we are calling it a town centre first application to indicate that it is not a normal section 34. Applicants can go the normal building control and regulations route if they want to or they can opt for this expedited one, which is a called town centre first application. It is not to be put under the town centre first office.

On the section 6 question that local authority "shall" commence steps, I would be concerned that if local authorities are compelled to acquire all these derelict sites, they may just sit as derelict sites now owned by the local authority. We would have to give some leeway to local authorities to say there is a requirement for that building, there is a need, they can use that building or they can readily turn that building around within an appropriate period. I do know about having to compel the local authority to do it.