Ms Maria Graham:

I will deal with the question on derelict sites first. Last November we initiated a call to local authorities to review the Act to see if any operational tweaks could be made to the legislation to improve it. I have committed here to giving the data we have on derelict sites, which would obviously reflect what the Deputy is saying about Fingal but to give that in a global sense. We are very open to proposing legislative changes or seeing if some local authorities are better in their practice and seeing if that practice can be rolled out. We see that very much as part of what the Town Centre First policy might do.

In terms of properties that are derelict, our Secretary General has written to all Secretaries General to see what portfolio projects they may have that could be used. There is an action under Housing for All for State properties that are underutilised. Many of the structures that are in Housing for All are looking at driving these actions in combination and how this might be brought forward. First, we must get the data on what is out there but also on what mechanisms we can use. We are looking with the Housing Agency to see if it has a role, because sometimes it can activate issues more easily as a single body than multiple local authorities, for example, dealing with HSE properties. We have a number of funding schemes. Many of them are focused on individuals. The Croí Cónaithe towns funding is for individuals, but we are looking with the regional assemblies at European funding that is due to be finalised at the end of the second quarter to see if there are gaps where resourcing could be put in place. It is something we are actively looking at. We have had a couple of examples of a similar nature shared today where there are properties that may not be owned by Departments but are in the State's portfolio and could be brought into use. We are very anxious to see that happen. It would be a common community response to see such projects activated.