Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I commend Senator Moynihan and her colleagues on tabling the motion. I have said many times, and I will say it again, that the fastest and most sustainable way to increase our housing supply is to reuse the built properties that are already connected to the water and electricity, and are in our communities beside shops, schools, churches and every other meeting place that communities need. I hope the Government will be supportive of the spirit of the motion if not its specifics.

I do not believe any Government, certainly in recent history, has done more to address vacancy and dereliction than this Government. I say this as somebody who has spent a long time on Dublin City Council. Senator Sherlock mentioned Nos. 19 to 21 Connaught Street. I dedicated the best part of my time on Dublin City Council to getting it to put them on the derelict list. It then took them off the list and I worked to get it to put them back on it, with regard to dangerous buildings, derelict sites and vacant sites. It was tortuous. It went on over 20 years. These properties are fine Edwardian redbrick homes. It is scandalous. It is a dereliction of Dublin City Council's responsibility and duty, and its privilege to be the housing authority for our capital city, that it has left these buildings unoccupied, not refurbished and not renovated. These are one tiny example.

Up the road we have Baggot Street hospital. It is owned by Dublin City Council. What is it doing with it? What is the excuse?