Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I note recent reports that the Minister has not ruled himself out of the running as a candidate for the European Commission. It is more appropriate for the Government to focus on matters closer to home. With respect, the Minister did not answer my specific question about whether Dublin City Council's funding for restoring voids has been cut.

I appreciate that this is a bigger issue than social homes because we know there are more than 100,000 properties sitting empty, vacant and derelict across the country. It is a national scandal and a scourge. Next week, our Labour Party colleagues in the Seanad will be bringing a motion to address vacancy and dereliction and will address some of the other issues the Minister raised. Sufficient funding for local authorities to tackle voids and bring empty and derelict homes back into use and to operate the vacant and derelict sites register is a critical issue. It will be raised in the Seanad next week as well. It appears to us as if the Government is guilty of a dereliction of duty here.

It is taking a hands-off approach and washing its hands at central government level. It is blaming local authorities and placing the responsibility on them, yet not funding them adequately to deliver the refurbishments necessary to bring vacant and derelict properties back into use and put more people into the homes they so desperately need.

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