John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Mr. Faughnan. I will take questions from members in a moment.

I want to pick up on a point Mr. Faughnan made, and when he answers the other questions he might refer to this in more detail. He mentioned there are 11 vacant multiple unit properties between Hanlon's Corner and Croke Park on the North Circular Road. Does he have more information as to why they are vacant? We are not talking about sub-standard accommodation, but a change was made in the regulations on bedsits and the committee has probed this with the Department of Social Protection and the RTB. We would like to get to grips with this matter. Have these regulations resulted in properties being taken out of rental accommodation? I do not condone or support inferior accommodation, but to balance this, we are also looking at children sleeping on mattresses or airbeds in grossly inappropriate accommodation, as Deputy O'Dowd stated. Given this, it is somewhat concerning that we are being told there are 11 vacant properties on the North Circular Road. Mr. Faughnan can address this with some of the other questions.