Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I again raise the potential for accommodation over retail units in all our market towns. I asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, repeatedly by way of parliamentary question whether, where the ground floor is in use consistently and the upper floors have not been in use, that qualifies for Croí Cónaithe. These are not vacant buildings because the ground floor remains and has always been in use. I asked that question and got an unclear reply, sent it back to the Ceann Comhairle, who sent it back to the Department, and got a more unclear reply back. I sent it back again, got a further unclear reply and then sent it back for the fourth time. That level of obfuscation costs a lot of money.

It is a simple question. Does it qualify or does it not? I do not expect the Taoiseach to have the answer, because it is a specific question. Will he give a commitment that I will receive an answer to the question of whether, where the ground floor is and has been in use but there is a proposal to convert the upper floors, that qualifies for Croí Cónaithe?

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