Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There are, one could argue, inconsistencies across the country as to how derelict sites registers operate. We want local authorities to do their job. We have never had a better focus on vacancy. Every local authority has at least one vacant homes officer. We have a vacant homes team as well. There is the urban regeneration and development fund. In fairness, I assume the Deputy was in the Dáil Chamber earlier when I gave these figures. We gave out €150 million through URDF 3 and following engagement with local authorities over the past ten months the number of properties approved for acquisition through that is 1,224, with expected residential output of 5,406. That is a fund that stays with the local authorities, so when they sell the properties or the sites, the money goes back into the fund as well. We have already identified 1,224 properties there. I mentioned earlier - this is not specific to local authorities - the success of the Croí Cónaithe towns grant. People have been responding to that because they see older property and they can get the cost of purchasing those properties defrayed either to live in them or to let them into the private rental market long-term. We have received 8,194 applications to date, with 5,049 approved, so these-----