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

We will also try to make a case for him as well because this is something our Department, and the employment and development Departments, want to see addressed. It is an issue that the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, discussed with all the local authority managers and housing officers at the recent housing summit. We want to try to strengthen the powers of local authorities to deal with unfinished sites and developments, but also derelict sites, through the compulsory purchase orders, CPO, process. A review of that is currently taking place as well as other matters, because local authorities need to be able to take action in these cases. In this case Kildare County Council wants to take action but it cannot, so we intend to try to strengthen its position and hopefully help in future cases also.

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