Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The fact that the Minister quoted a precedent and an actual example in Boyle gives me some grounds for hope. The Minister of State will also be familiar with the Central Hotel. Buildings like that which become so derelict are in private ownership. There does not appear to be any clear intent by the owner or owners of the property as to what their intentions are for the property. The local authority and the taxpayers have spent a fortune on the upkeep of what is a derelict building in terms of safety measures and various fires that have broken out. It has cost the taxpayer quite a significant amount through the years. I take some solace from the Minister's response in that there is a precedent for the acquisition by a local authority of a hotel and that perhaps the same idea could be brought to bear. I certainly will approach the local authority on that basis.

See this speech in context