Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Is the pilot scheme on schedule? When will we be in a position to learn the lessons of the pilot scheme, given that the commitment to run it was made in January 2017? It was due to be completed by quarter 3 of 2017 but it took a long time to commence and the towns were only announced in quarter 3 of 2018. When will we have the lessons? I am aware that some projects have been announced in Ballinrobe, but is there a focus on residential property and is the Minister liaising with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government to co-ordinate an approach? To quote the Minister, Deputy Ring, himself, Ireland is unbalanced. While there is a shortage of housing in our key population centres, many of our rural towns are experiencing a shortage of services which are declining due to a lack of people. Surely the Minister and the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, should liaise on this project and work on a combined approach to using the scheme as part of the response to our housing crises.

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