Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Indeed. The Father of the House is dead right. Tradesmen, particularly those in the wet trades, such as the plasterers and block masons, are nearly impossible to get. That is the core issue. Before the boom, we had tradesmen and labourers coming in from abroad. That is not happening now. The support will have to come from our own society. Tying it all together will be a huge issue in addressing the housing crisis. It will also be an issue for construction. This is important legislation but, in fairness to the Minister, it will not solve everything because there are so many dynamics that need to be solved. Anyone who examines the cost and availability of labour will see that these are huge issues for us.

The other issue I would like to raise concerns the powers of local authorities when it comes to compulsory purchase orders, CPOs. The number of vacant properties in villages the length and breadth of Ireland is frightening. The CPO powers of local authorities are amazing. They have phenomenal powers that date back to an Act from the 1960s, I believe. That Act is not being used effectively by the local authorities. They need to come into that space more. A former city manager in Cork City Hall, Mr. Joe Gavin, with whom I never worked, was probably the pioneer who used to Act to the fullest extent. He achieved major movement in Cork in the 1980s. We should use this Act in every town and village across the county. We should be promoting the legislation and driving city and county managers to use it so they can get rid of derelict sites and address developments that need to be moved on. It will be a genuine game changer if we can get movement in this space.

To return to my primary argument, this is important legislation. It will go a long way towards solving our problems but it is only a part of the solution. We will get there but, realistically, it will be bit by bit.