David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Does the Minister agree with the report of Chambers Ireland, made available last year, which states that, if all vacant properties in towns, villages and cities around the country were made available, 18,000 new homes could be activated? Does he agree that this would require incentives and a carrot-and-stick approach? I am sure the Minister of State knows, as I do, that there are small villages all over the country in which 20 properties may be lying idle. Dealing with this requires an incentive on one end and some kind of penalty on the other for owners who decide to leave such properties lying idle. Will the Minister of State comment on that?

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