Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the work that is going on and good work being done.

There is an opportunity in respect of towns and villages throughout the country, where there are many derelict buildings. There is a massive opportunity from a housing perspective but also to provide the types of buildings and facilities we know are needed. I refer in particular to former pubs and shops. Our towns and villages are dotted with such buildings that are boarded up. Community organisations are there and, with a capital injection, they will run those places and make them available. The capital injection is the key to joining the dots. That would be a very ambitious and progressive programme.

As I said earlier, we need a collaboration with sporting organisations in respect of the sports capital programme for organisations that want to provide youth-specific spaces in their clubs and facilities. It would be money wisely invested and we would not have to reinvent the wheel. Many of the social organisations are there, as is the infrastructure. It just needs a capital injection.

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