Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I wish to point something out to the Minister of State. He provided funding for anti-dumping initiatives in 2022. Of the 13 projects in Cork city, only one was on the north side. The communities that got the funding were the ones that were most affluent and probably least in need of it, while the communities that were most in need did not get it. Perhaps they did not have the interest or organisation to apply for it. Could the Minister of State explain that?

We have a situation now where there are voids, vacant houses belonging to local authorities, which are a magnet for dumping. I raised this yesterday with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. There is an unbelievable amount of dumping and antisocial behaviour.

Vulnerable people such as pensioners and people with disabilities should be given a waiver. Will the Minister of State provide funding to local authorities for a waiver? Some local authorities provide a waiver to those vulnerable people and others do not.

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