Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 1 February 2017

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government

Derelict Sites and Underused Spaces: Discussion

9:30 am

Photo of Maria BaileyMaria Bailey (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I have one or two questions to ask this and the next set of witnesses. Each local authority has submitted its works programme and information on its housing supply, the zoned and non-zoned sites that it owns, where there is infrastructure, etc. For various reasons, it would not be financially viable to purchase many of the vacant units in question. In Dún Laoghaire, it costs 20% more to purchase, build or rent than anywhere else in Dublin. We must tackle this issue.

Although I am solution driven, I recognise that not all of the units are suitable and it will take time to work through them and produce results on the ground. I welcome the repair and lease initiatives and I agree with Mr. Doyle's grid proposal. The committee has proposed to take what we learn today and put a report together.

As we have approximately ten minutes to conclude this section, I will ask Mr. Doyle and Dr. Sirr to contribute again.