Pat Casey (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State is correct but more support is required. The greatest opportunity available to us is in the area of vacant properties because they offer a win on all accounts, especially in respect of village and town renewal. Bringing vacant properties back into use brings life back into towns. We are failing to deliver the critical infrastructure needed to build new houses. Vacant properties have water and sewerage services and access to the road network. I ask the Minister to revisit this issue and find more money to address vacant properties. To use the Department's figures, the €300 million sum provided to deliver 7,500 vacant properties into use is less than what is being spent on rapid build housing, which will deliver only 350 units. When we compare like with like, it is clear that vacant properties present a golden opportunity. Perhaps we can revisit the issue as a possible solution in the near future.

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