John Cummins (Waterford, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy Brennan. I addressed the URDF, CPO and the derelict sites register in my opening remarks. The other strand is obviously the vacant property refurbishment grant, which has been a hugely successful scheme. Towards the end of Q1 of 2025, more than 12,400 applications have been received under the scheme, with more than 8,600 approvals and 2,000 grants paid out to date, giving the owners of properties up to €70,000 in support to bring a derelict property back into productive use.

I referenced the repair and lease scheme, which has been deployed to huge success in my county of Waterford. I have seen how vacant and derelict properties on the main streets the Deputy spoke about have been converted into productive residential units for people on the social housing waiting list. We also have the THRIVE scheme, through the town centre first scheme, which is utilising ERDF EU regional development programmes to rehabilitate publicly-owned, vacant and derelict heritage buildings. That scheme has allocated more than €117 million to transformative capital projects in buildings in Cork, Galway, Waterford, Gorey and Wexford, as well as other parts of the country.

What I can say is that I am placing an increased emphasis and focus on this. I want to see all local authorities coming up to the level of the best-performing local authorities. I have seen what works and am trying to influence that as much as possible because I agree with Deputy Brennan that at a time of such need and want in terms of housing, we have to be seen to be delivering in respect of vacancy and dereliction and the quickest way to do so is to focus on the houses and buildings that are already there and that is what we are determined to do.

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