Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are all in complete agreement on this matter, which is nice for a change. The opportunities in this area are endless. We have asked local authorities and approved housing bodies to send someone out to every vacant property and tell us who owns it, why it is empty, what is wrong with it and what must be done to bring it into use. The Department will then chase up on every individual property. We have asked approved housing bodies and local authorities to work on this issue together in all relevant areas. We also asked them to be ambitious and go after these properties. Three schemes have been announced and money has been allocated to them. More will follow when the strategy is published. We have made clear to local authority members and management that they must show ambition and spend the money we have allocated. We will then find more money but we must first see ambition. We have stated in face to face meetings with local authority managers that the best way for local authorities to prove to observers that they are up to the job is to find vacant properties and bring them back into use. The challenge lies with them. Resources are available and we will find more demand-led schemes. The Minister has made clear that if the allocation is spent, we will find more money. Everyone has a role to play in this matter. Members and councillors know people who own vacant properties and should ask them to make these properties available. Everyone gains from these worthwhile schemes.

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