Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Using properties that are vacant and making them available for housing is a constructive idea. I welcome the Croí Cónaithe scheme and the approach it is taking. There are vacant properties in towns and villages across the country. In Macroom, there are vacant properties in the Dunnes Stores apartments, which have been unoccupied since they were built in 2004. Locals are frustrated that these apartments are not available for people to live in. Every effort should be made to make them available.

There is a good level of interest in making applications to the scheme. The Minister of State referred to a figure of 760. I hope there will be many more, and people are inquiring about it at my office. Is the Minister of State setting a target with each local authority for how quickly applications are processed so that people who are interested in taking part will know how soon they can get access to the funding and do the requisite work? Are the local authorities achieving those targets?

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