Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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The first was related to private contractors. Is it envisaged that private contractors will acquire local authority houses that are derelict, refurbish them and lease them back to the local authority? The second question was related to the new regulations for abandoned houses. The regulations are impacting on local government budgets and will impact on the budget of the Department as it continues up along the chain in the next year or two. Is it envisaged that the Minister will re-examine what is happening on the ground in respect of the new regulations for abandoned houses? Local authorities are spending thousands of euro in advertising that houses are vacant. The people who want to smash them up see them being advertised in a newspaper, drive around, smash them up and take the copper cylinders out of them at night. It is crazy stuff.