John Cummins (Waterford, Fine Gael)

With all due respect, I did not interrupt the Deputy so I would appreciate the courtesy of allowing me to reply.

We are introducing that tax as the stick that will come if the carrot of those schemes has not been used. CPOs have a role to play. The issuing of the notices and instructing the owners of those properties to bring them back into use and activate them is also a tool some local authorities are using to good effect and others are not.

The Deputy invited me to take a stroll around Dublin, Cork or Waterford. I walk Waterford every day of the week when I am at home and tremendous work has been done through CPOs and the schemes I mentioned. I am sure in the Deputy's city of Cork good work is being done, but also that more needs to be done to tackle vacancy and dereliction.

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