Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The figures released during the census of 2015 showed that 183,000 vacant homes throughout the country. Some 35,293 were in Dublin. This does not reflect the true figure of vacant homes, because local authorities just do not have the resources to deal with this and to ascertain what the true figure is. To properly identify them and determine the true figures vacant home officers must be employed and a State-wide vacant home register established. It is very important that we get the actual figures and that we have a proper register.

It is also clear that it is important to have an accurate figure for vacant shops throughout the country. We also need a register to deal with that. During the so-called Celtic tiger period thousands of shops were built, along with houses and apartments. To this day, ten or more yers later, they are still unoccupied throughout the country. They can be seen across the country, from Ballymun, Kildare, Limerick, Galway and Sligo, in urban and rural areas. There are 29,000 vacant commercial spaces throughout the country. Edenderry in County Offaly has the highest vacancy rate for commercial properties, with 31% left vacant in the fourth quarter of 2016. That is an awful shame. These places could be utilised. We need to look at the different sections in the planning Acts and what can be done to ensure that these properties are brought back on stream.

Dublin City Council uses very few compulsory purchase orders, CPOs. There have been between 20 and 26 CPOs which have been brought on stream by Dublin City Council which have not been completed. In other areas across the country, such as Louth and Rathdown, they are used on a far greater scale. The largest local authority in the country is not using CPOs as much as it should be. We need to look at that. Dublin City Council uses derelict sites first and then CPOs the buildings. We need to look at the idea of CPOs, and we need to identify the best way to use them quickly. There are various reasons properties are left vacant. There may be disputes between banks or owners or there might be probate issues. We must find out whether we can speed up these processes. Is there any mechanism we can use or introduce so that we can use these properties?

I welcome Deputy Cowen's Bill. There is a lot in it, and a look at this whole process is long overdue.

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