Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)

Obviously, we do not have a particularly accurate picture of the level of vacancy that is there at the moment. How do we get that accurate picture? Could the witnesses put a somewhat accurate figure on the number of vacant homes, as they believe them to be, in the country and the percentage vacancy rate? Will the new vacant property tax actually work? Is there any rationale, in the view of the witnesses, for delaying that? Do they believe the current definition of vacancy, or of a vacant home or building, needs to be changed? Do they have a view on the uptake of schemes? I have been looking at the uptake of the derelict property scheme versus the living cities initiative and there is a bit of a disparity there. There does not seem to be the same level of take-up at all in the living cities initiative. Can the witnesses quantify why the living cities initiative is not working, given that it has just been extended in the most recent budget?