Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome this section, which contains the living city initiative. It is a good initiative. It is fairly restrictive and relates to Georgian houses only. In Waterford the vast majority of the Georgian houses are in a fairly good state of repair. Is there any intention to extend the scheme to pre-1900 houses? There is a significant stock of these buildings in my city and they could certainly do with incentives such as those envisaged for Georgian houses.

I am surprised that there are not more Senators in the House, because during recent weeks people have been crying out for incentives for town centres, decrying the fact that they are derelict and so on and calling for tax incentives. I am surprised that the Members who have raised those issues on the Order of Business on a constant basis are not here to discuss the Finance Bill with the Minister now that they have the opportunity to do so, rather than calling on the Minister to come in for this, that and the other. The opportunity is here now but, unfortunately, people are not availing of it.

Is there an intention to extend this to pre-1900 houses in some of the areas referred to in the Bill? I compliment the Minister on introducing this initiative which, I believe, will benefit the areas referred to.