Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Regional Group for bringing forward this well-thought-out and comprehensive motion, which outlines a series of proposals to utilise the many vacant and derelict properties throughout the country.

In my opinion, the proposals outlined here are reasonable, practical and could be implemented in a timely manner. I believe the Government will not oppose this motion, but as so many Deputies have said, we need urgent action. We are all aware of the extent of the housing crisis. While the Government tells us about its Housing for All plan and how it is being rolled out, people are at the end of their tether. There is huge pressure to find a place to live, to rent or to buy. It is crisis across the entire country. We need other actions parallel to Housing for All that can be implemented immediately and that will deliver accommodation in the short and medium term. I strongly support the proposal to introduce 0% long-term loans for retrofitting homes. The proposal that repayments be made through utility companies based on energy savings, to include microgeneration technologies, is good and should be investigated.

As I said, this motion is comprehensive and encompasses the fact that the homes that we renovate, build, supply and so on should be fully retrofitted. While retrofitting grants are available for some homeowners, many will still have to take out loans to retrofit their homes. That can be a significant cost at the best of times, but since it is highly likely that interest rates will rise, that will deter people from borrowing to retrofit. Energy-saving homes are an essential component in cutting our emissions and our reliance on fossil fuels. They are a necessity, not a luxury. Innovative proposals such as interest free loans should be given full consideration by the relevant Ministers and action should be taken on foot of that. The idea of taking credit unions on board to deliver these interest-free loans should be examined, because we know credit unions have money to lend and want to play their part in assisting people to either build, renovate or retrofit their homes.

As the Minister of State knows, the Northern and Western Regional Assembly published a regional vacancy and dereliction analysis in January this year. It is a valuable resource for policy development, since it gives the baseline figures. We know where the vacant and derelict properties are. This facilitates planning at local and regional level. The national vacancy and dereliction rate for residential properties in 2020 was 4.9% in Ireland. It is 10% in County Sligo, 14% in Roscommon, 10% in Donegal and 16% in Leitrim. The renovation of derelict and vacant homes has huge potential to reinvigorate and renew many of the towns and villages across the north west. It would bring them back to life.

If the Minister of State implemented some of the recommendations in this motion, it would be a game changer for many towns in my constituency, especially those towns with residential vacancy rates at or above 10%, including Bundoran, Ballyshannon, Ballinamore, Dromahair, Drumshanbo, Mohill, Ballysadare, Ballymote and Boyle.

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