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

The Deputy and many others complimented the scheme when we first rolled it out as one which could work. We recognise that we can make changes and we are going to do so. The Deputy keeps telling us to stop making announcements so we cannot tell him tonight about the changes to the scheme which will improve it. It has great potential which the Deputy and I can both see. He often refers to premises in his own county which need refurbishment, and this scheme is perfect for them. However, there has been a very slow buy-in. We will change the scheme to make it more attractive which it is hoped will encourage more people in. The potential is there to achieve renewal of accommodation as well as to supply social housing.

We agree with a great deal of what is in Fianna Fáil's Bill and we are trying to bring it forward to make changes to planning around change of use. The €50 million which has been set aside will help to drive some of the ideas discussed in the Bill, with which we all agree. As I have said, €50 million will not be enough and we will need a great deal more in the years ahead to drive urban regeneration in the many towns and villages that have suffered for 20 or 30 years and not just the last ten.

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