Mr. Gordon Daly:

With regard to section 183, the elected members have a really important part to play in the process of activation. In this regard, let us consider what occurs if they do not buy into it and the whole process stops. Where the local authority is acquiring derelict property, it needs to pay compensation. The only way to bring back that money is by disposing of the property on the open market and using the funds. We can understand and may be seeing some evidence that elected members would prefer properties to be taken into the ownership of the council through this process and used for social housing, but the challenge with this is that the local authority housing departments have a lot of work to do. They have voids and they have vacant properties to bring back into use, and they also have capital programmes to deliver on, and, therefore, it is important that properties be put on the open market and put into private use. The support of the elected members is available. It is in the legislation that the disposal of property is a matter for the elected members. They have an important role to play in that regard. The Department intends to brief the various council representative organisations on this. As other speakers have said, there is genuine energy and enthusiasm among elected members right across the country. Their support in helping to streamline the disposal process is important.