Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)

We all know what these are. They are located throughout the country. Provisions are made within families for a parent or parents to live separately but under the one roof. In most cases that provision is made to prevent people going into nursing homes or similar accommodation. This is wrong. I support Senator Coffey who also feels very strongly about this issue.

The Minister has not addressed another issue about which we spoke, namely, where people who may be living in poor accommodation apply for planning permission to build a new house. The old house still stands as a house. Later, that house can made into living quarters. In some cases it may take a considerable amount of money to make the place habitable. In others it may not cost much. The Minister has not been specific about such houses and we know there are very many such throughout the country. My reading of the Minister's statements is that such a house will be liable for €200 per annum even if nobody is living in it. In some cases such houses are derelict or nearly so but are still houses. It seems they are liable for the charge.

Under section 11, the local authority will provide information to the Revenue Commissioners and in this case, it will declare the owner to have a second home. I do not know what use the Revenue will make of such information but it will have it. I can see that being a problem but I want the Minister to be more specific in respect of such a type of house - the derelict, the nearly derelict or the kind that may not take much money to make it habitable.