Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister for his reply. I acknowledge that he does not have day-to-day responsibility for the activities of IDA Ireland. I accept it is now the policy of IDA Ireland to move away from owning and operating properties. At the time that policy was adopted, 18% of the agency's properties was vacant. However, although it has since off-loaded many of its properties, there is now a vacancy rate of 41%. In other words, the number of vacant properties has increased phenomenally despite this policy of off-loading buildings.

Would it be appropriate for the Minister to request an audit of all vacant properties and to ask IDA Ireland, within a defined timeframe of perhaps one or two years, either to dispose of properties that are no longer suitable or to make suitable properties available to local authorities, county enterprise boards or local community groups?

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