Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Can I ask one more question? Those questions were around new supply. We all agree that the fastest and most sustainable way to increase housing supply is to reuse vacant and derelict properties. It is indisputable how well received the Croí Cónaithe vacant and derelict property grants have been. It is important that funding was given to the local authorities to appoint vacant housing officers and that funding has been administered locally by the local authorities. The scheme has worked very well. Could the Minister clarify whether every one of the 31 local authorities has now adopted the local authority home loan for vacant properties and combined it with the vacant property grant?

I appreciate that there is a 13-month facility for people to complete works in order to draw down the grant, but there have been requests to extend it. I know that will not work in the Government's favour because it will be used by others to say the grants are not being drawn down, but the reality is that people using the grants, which are really valuable to them, are asking whether the drawdown period can be extended to up to 18 months to allow them to complete the works.

Has consideration been given to the staged payment of the grants? This has come up. I have heard the arguments for and against staged payment. I would like to know the current position of the Department on the matter.