Ms Maria Graham:

In general terms, the Department is very open to any projects of that nature, social or affordable. Some of them are more significant than an individual property. For example, in Monaghan a full street in Clones has been taken up and refurbished. We are open to looking at such projects. The delivery action plans that are being looked at now will look at the overall delivery in all of the schemes by local authorities. We have issued to vacant homes officers an enhanced programme for full-time offices. We looked at the role of the vacant home officer. Apart from in Dublin, as the Senator mentioned, most of them are part-time staff. We are looking at what areas they should be focused on.

In terms of the various departmental schemes, it talks about the point of active uptake on the social housing capital delivery schemes, including buy and renew and repair and lease, CPO and the Croí Cónaithe. On the Senator's question with regard to the Croí Cónaithe, we are finalising the approach on what will work for local authorities, part of which involves getting the feedback from the vacant homes officers. As mentioned by the Senator, Waterford has been to the fore in availing of all of the available schemes. In the first round, we will be looking for projects that can move quickly and in respect of which the sites are in locations that align with national planning framework objectives. Our sense is they should be able to meet an application for a local authority.