Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)

We can all agree on one thing, namely, that housing is a major issue for this country and the Government. Unfortunately, there are no silver bullets when it comes to finding a solution to the problem, but there are small steps that can help to increase the supply. One initiative introduced in this regard was the vacant property grant, which has been a great success. Up to March this year, there have been over 12,000 applications, of which over 8,500 have been approved to a value of €112.5 million. It is not just about bringing properties back to life and having people living in them, but also about breathing life into many of our towns and villages and indeed many rural areas throughout the country. The initiative tidies up our towns, villages and rural areas, and it is great to see people living in them again.

I was taken by the remarks made on the initiative by the Hardware Association of Ireland, which recently met the Minister, Deputy James Browne, on its proposal to see the grant extended to commercial properties. We are all familiar with shops in towns and villages whose first or second floors, and third in some instances, are lying idle. The proposal is to extend eligibility for the grant to include, along with single dwellings, multistorey units above shops. It is an excellent idea to allow people to draw down a grant on these. First-, second- and third-floor units have been lying idle for years in some cases because it does not make financial sense to do them up. According to the Hardware Association of Ireland, something like 20,000 units could be brought back to life. When I say “units”, I mean property that could contain people and become family homes. The idea is excellent and I would be grateful if we could arrange a debate on it with the Minister at his convenience so this issue and many others concerning increasing supply can be discussed in more detail.