Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the issue of dereliction. The former Shannon Oaks hotel in Portumna, County Galway, has lain idle and derelict for close to 15 years. The site is an eyesore and is attracting antisocial behaviour. It is a serious health and safety issue because the site is not properly secured. It is being entered very regularly, which is very concerning because it is a very unstable structure that has been damaged after a fire. It is an accident waiting to happen. Galway County Council is not willing or equipped to deal with the issue of dereliction. The last time I checked, there were only four properties on the county's derelict sites register, which is nowhere near an accurate reflection of the situation on the ground. Shannon Oaks is not on that register so there are no penalties for the owners of this site, Brian and Luke Comer, who are very wealthy individuals, that would encourage them to bring the hotel back into use - this is what the people of Portumna want above all else because it was the only hotel in the town and crucial for the area - or, at least, address the safety concerns and encourage them to give it to somebody who will bring it back into use. Will the Government finally get its act together on dereliction and empower and resource local authorities to deal with this issue and enforce the derelict sites register?

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