Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

As I have said, I am unable to give a response to all of the supplementary questions that the Senator has asked during this Commencement debate.

In terms of regeneration, I visited the project in Limerick and it is one of the most ambitious projects in the country. The Senator has made an important point about young single people aged 25 to 45, and trying to get them into sustainable housing is critically important. There are solutions, and we can look at Limerick city centre as we are looking throughout the country, around above shop premises and bringing some shop premises back to full occupancy. These premises offer great opportunities to young people in that category. We can advance that through the town centres first initiative and the Limerick regeneration project.

In terms of 60 properties per year, it does take a considerable amount of time to bring voids back into productive use if you specifically consider the requirements under building regulations and trying to bring houses up to a B2 rating, which is soon to be a much higher energy efficiency standard. I think that is critically important because it addresses fuel poverty as well.

Our Department has provided record funding. We certainly are not putting the blame on Limerick City and County Council. We are giving increased responsibility and financial supports. What the Minister has done consistently since taking up office is providing the financial resources but also the responsibility to local authorities to deliver on housing and a targeted delivery of housing. Another critical point I will leave on is the fact we have put in additional staff in housing sections in every local authority to deliver on the design and delivery of housing throughout the country.