Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Higgins for her comments, for articulating aspects of the affordable housing Bill and for all her good work on the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage. She has been very articulate on it. On the comments of the other Members, Deputy Stanton has raised the issue of derelict homes on a number of occasions. We have a stick approach in the form of the vacant sites levy. It was 3% of the market valuation until 2018 and has increased to 7% for sites listed on local authority vacant sites registers from 2019 onwards. As part of our Town Centre First initiative, of whose advisory group Chambers Ireland and similar actors are members, we must consider how we can adopt a carrot approach to unlock these brownfield and infill sites and derelict buildings and to open them up. That is very important. That will increase the vibrancy and we are working hard to deliver that.

In response to Deputy O'Donnell, I absolutely concur on the density issues. I issued a circular in connection with the matter last week. I am absolutely willing to meet with the Deputy to discuss the matter further.

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