Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. I will take that up with the OPW. This issue is incredibly important, in particular when we have dereliction and vacant buildings in our towns. To be fair, the Government has produced some really good policy documents in Our Rural Future and Town Centre First, and in many of the aspects of Housing for All. When it is the State that is the owner of the building, I am of the view that we have an extra responsibility to ensure it does not detract visually from the town and that it does not impact visually in such a way as to damage the economic benefits to the town. Going on what the Minister of State has said, and I welcome his statement, I will engage further with the OPW. I look forward to seeing that work carried out in a timely manner.

See this speech in context