Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate – Dáil Éireann (34th Dáil) – Thursday, 21 May 2026

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate

Family Resource Centres

Deputy Robert O'Donoghue

I would like to highlight the vital role family resource centres play in communities across the country, particularly at a time when more and more families are struggling and looking for support close to home. Family resource centres are often the first place people turn to when they are facing difficulties. They provide practical help, emotional support, family services, youth programmes, counselling, and community connections. Most importantly, they offer early intervention and prevention supports that help stop problems from snowballing into crisis situations.

In recent years, centres have seen a significant increase in demand. Families are dealing with rising living costs, housing insecurity, mental health challenges, social isolation, and increasing financial pressure. Many parents and young people are now presenting with more complex needs, and communities are relying heavily on family resource centres to respond.

Despite their importance, many centres are operating under severe strain. Staff are working tirelessly, but waiting lists for counselling, therapeutic supports, family programmes, and youth services continue to grow. Rising operational costs, staffing shortages, and limited space are restricting the ability of centres to meet the growing demand. These centres save the State money in the long term by providing support early, before problems become more serious and require costly statutory interventions. They strengthen communities, support vulnerable families, and create safe, inclusive spaces for people of all ages.

In my constituency of Dublin Fingal West, Aster family resource centre in Balbriggan is a vital pillar of the community’s social infrastructure. However, as demand continues to grow, it urgently needs sustained investment in both its premises and front-line services. Every day, it is supporting a record number of families facing housing insecurity, poverty, domestic violence, caring pressures, and serious mental health challenges. Its work is indispensable. While funding has increased, much of this progress has been wiped out by soaring rents, rising utility bills, and escalating operating costs. Without meaningful and sustained support, centres like Aster family resource centre will struggle to keep pace with the growing needs of the communities they serve.

If we are serious about supporting families, tackling inequality, and improving community well-being, then sustained investment in family resource centres must be a priority in budget 2027. The reality is simply that when communities are supported, families are stronger and when families are stronger, society as a whole benefits.

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (Deputy Frankie Feighan)

I thank Deputy O'Donoghue for raising this important issue and for offering the Minister the opportunity to respond. As the Deputy outlined, when families are stronger, they works very well. I have full confidence in and great time for the family resource centres. When I started out in politics many years ago, they were known as family life centres. I remember as a councillor, before I became a Senator in 2002, issues came to my attention in my office that maybe I did not have the skills to deal with. It was wonderful to be able to ring the family resource centre and ask for assistance. At all times that assistance was brilliant. It was confidential and it was very helpful. I am one who believes in the family resource centres.

Budget 2027 negotiations have not yet commenced and it is expected that, as in previous years, the Department will work to secure a level of funding that will ensure the continuation of established services, with potentially some scope also to develop services that respond to emerging needs and increased demands, as the Deputy referenced. The family resource centre network is an increasingly important component in how issues that arise across the entire age spectrum - from early years to old age - are responded to. The Minister is very committed to the programme, and cognisant of the benefits that family resource centres bring to their communities.

Following on from core funding increases and the expansion of the family resource centre programme in 2026, made possible through budget 2026 funding, the Minister has indicated that she will continue to pursue the expansion of the family resource centre programme through the budgetary process and in line with the programme for Government commitment to work to increase funding and expand the capacity and network of family resource centres. Improvements to core funding for family resource centres will also remain under consideration.

Any positive developments for the family resource centre programme that come out of the budget 2027 negotiations will build on achievements in the programme over the past number of years. This includes the expansion of the family resource centre programme in 2026, from 126 to 136 members. This followed expansion of the programme in 2025, from 121 members to 126 members. There was an increase in the minimum core funding level for family resource centres from €160,000 to €180,000 from January 2026, also secured as part of budget 2026. The core funding increase benefitted approximately 100 family resource centres around the country. Funding was secured for counselling providers, many of which are family resource centres, offering counselling and therapeutic services at no to low-cost for the communities they serve.

In addition to Tusla’s family support services counselling funding, in 2025 30 family resource centres were allocated €292,500 from a total allocation of €1.5 million in additional funding. That benefitted a total of 73 community and voluntary organisations delivering essential counselling and therapeutic supports to children and families. This funding, which was formerly allocated under the Dormant Accounts Fund was provided to family resource centres to allow them to continue their important work of providing counselling and therapeutic services to children and young people in the community. The funding helps to address unmet need and reduce waiting lists for community-based counselling services.

In relation to capital funding for refurbishment, extension or construction of family resource centre buildings, I wish to inform the Deputy that neither the Department nor Tusla currently has capital funding to support the purchase or building of new facilities, or the refurbishment or extension of existing family resource centres.

Tusla does not have a dedicated budget for capital or building works for third party organisations, such as family resource centres.

Deputy Robert O'Donoghue

I want to take a moment to appeal directly to the Minister of State to recognise the importance of this. Some of that funding is greatly welcomed for centres like the Aster resource centre in Balbriggan, the only family support service based in north County Dublin. It serves mainly Balbriggan, but also covers Rush, Lusk and Skerries. Those are smaller towns but there is no similar service there. It is not just a service provider; it is a lifeline to countless people across Balbriggan and the wider community. Every day, staff and volunteers support people facing housing insecurity, poverty, domestic violence, mental health challenges and pressure for caring responsibilities.

The demands for these supports have never been greater. It is a rapidly growing area and yet the reality is that rising rents, old buildings, utility costs and operational pressures are eating away at their already stretched resources. Increasing funding on paper means little if organisations are spending more on rent and upkeep.

I welcome some of what the Minister of State said. I urge him to champion sustained and long-term investment in family resource centres like Aster so they can continue to provide essential care, support and stability for the many families who rely on them.

Deputy Frankie Feighan

The Minister and I thank the Deputy for engaging in this important issue. He outlined how important the family resource centre is for Balbriggan and north County Dublin. It is quite obvious that more is probably needed. The Minister is very pleased with the range of recent developments across the family resource centre programme. Core funding increases and expansion over 2025 and 2026 have been very welcome for the programme, its members and the communities served by the centres.

The Minister fully supports the family resource centre programme. She has first-hand experience of the positive impacts that family resource centres have had around her own county and nationally. The centres are a great endorsement of what can be achieved locally and the associated goodwill that permeates among communities. Family resource centres foster cohesion and collaboration and ultimately enhance the communities they serve. Many family resource centres become indispensable with clients engaging with the centres across all stages of life.

The Minister is aware of the funding challenges being faced by community organisations to sustain and expand their services. She is also aware of the strong level of interest in communities around the country in establishing local family resource centres. She encourages family resource centres to engage with Departments and Government agencies where funding mechanisms exist for local service delivery. The programme for Government commits to increase funding across this term of Government. I have been pleased to outline the positive measures being taken in this respect.

The family resource centre is a community development programme and it is financially supported by many State agencies in a partnership approach. Centres may draw on various sources of funding provided by other Departments, Government agencies and private sources. In relation to any immediate urgent issues, I suggest that the local authority be considered as a starting point regarding capital funding requests. Tusla also recommends that family resource centres look to any Government schemes available, such as rural integrated development schemes operated by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht. I again thank the Deputy for his comments.

Postal Services

Deputy Tom Brabazon

I am absolutely sick and tired of coming into this Chamber to complain about basic services not being delivered correctly or being removed to satisfy a corporate need rather than a public service. It seems to be a constant. I am in here every other week giving out about various emanations of the State. I am fed up with it and my constituents are fed up with it. Here we are once again and I am back to give out.

This time it is about An Post threatening to close its sorting office in Harmonstown and relocate it to Finglas. This sorting office services parts of Coolock, Artane, Raheny and other areas covering a very significant population. Reports of its moving to Finglas are particularly concerning because there is no direct public transport link from Raheny, Coolock and Artane to Finglas. This proposal makes absolutely no sense. The local community relies on having accessible postal services and moving this service to Finglas would place an unnecessary burden on local residents, especially on older people who already struggle with accessing public transport and their own mobility. Finglas is simply not well connected to our community. There is no straightforward public transport link that would allow people to travel there easily and independently. If this daft proposal proceeds, people will have to travel by car which will just add traffic to the M50 carpark at a time when the country is trying to reduce our carbon footprint.

My constituents are very worried about how they will collect parcels, deal with registered post, deal with missed deliveries and access postal services if this goes ahead. These are very basic services that people should be able to access within their own local community. Indeed, the EU proximity principle that is applied in many instances should be applied in respect of these services. Reducing accessibility is the wrong approach entirely. This idea has to be scrapped and I am asking the Minister to intervene on this and impress on An Post the value placed on the sorting office in Harmonstown and the damage that will be caused if it is to be relocated.

An Post claims it requires bigger premises. There is a site owned by Dublin City Council right next-door to the sorting office. If An Post purchased a small piece of that site and a delicately planned planning application was made, I am sure it could be the solution. However, not having considered an extension and moving everything over to Finglas is daft.

People are sick and tired of services being pulled from their communities and this will be another valuable amenity lost in the area I represent. This is an awful proposal and it needs to be stopped. The Minister, as shareholder on behalf of the people, needs to intervene.

Deputy Frankie Feighan

I welcome the opportunity to outline the position on this matter today. As An Post is a commercial State company with a mandate to act commercially, day-to-day operational matters, including decisions on the size, distribution and future of the network, are matters for the board and the management of the company and not ones in which either the Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, or the Minister, Deputy O’Donovan, has a statutory function. The Ministers are very aware of the impact that decisions relating to changes in An Post operations have on communities and individuals in both rural and urban areas. As this is a matter for the company, it would be inappropriate for the Government, as shareholder, to comment on or prejudice decisions which are for the board and management of An Post to consider.

Notwithstanding this is an operational matter, officials have engaged with the company. An Post has advised in the case of Harmonstown, the move is very much in the future and there is much to be considered before then. This includes which facilities in the local area will be utilised for undelivered mail. An Post has advised it is in consultation with its staff and unions on the details of the move.

An Post has noted it is consolidating its national network of local sorting offices, also known as delivery service units. An Post advises it needs larger and purpose-fitted premises to manage increased parcel volumes. An Post further advises it is hiring 300 additional postmen and postwomen across the country, some of whom will be working in this area, to manage the massive growth in volumes.

The Government is committed to a sustainable An Post and post office network as a key component of the economic and social infrastructure throughout Ireland. The programme for Government states that the Government will continue to provide a nationwide network of post offices with funding to ensure their sustainability and enhance the value they bring to local communities. The Department of Culture, Communications and Sport is working to deliver on this and an enhanced amount of €15 million per annum has been allocated for supporting the network, subject to all legal requirements being satisfied.

In line with the programme for Government, the funding will support the stability and sustainability of the nationwide network of post offices, protecting and nurturing a commercially focused post office network. It will also support access for citizens to the key social benefits of the post office network and help citizens to access services effectively and equitably.

The Government also agreed the principles on which the funding model will operate, which include: maintaining access to the network across urban and rural Ireland, ensuring no community is left behind; aligning individual funding with criteria, including the degree of isolation and the sustainability of each post office; ensuring a minimum revenue threshold for post offices; and recognising offices of cultural or geographic significance, such as those on inhabited islands or in Gaeltacht areas. Over the past couple of years, An Post has been transforming its business by delivering new products and new formats in the way it operates. This includes, among other things, diversifying and growing the financial services products it provides for individuals and SMEs. An Post is also providing agency banking services.

The Deputy has outlined his concerns and wants the Minister to intervene. I will bring those concerns back to the Minister. I thank him for his contribution.

Deputy Tom Brabazon

I am not happy with this hand-wringing exercise to say there is no statutory function. As a shareholder in the company, the Minister has some influence over decisions that are being made. If a State-owned body or a semi-State body in which a Minister has a shareholding is not influenceable, there is a serious issue. I welcome, however, the Minister of State's remarks that he will bring the concerns to the attention of the line Minister. I look forward to hearing further in that regard.

Deputy Frankie Feighan

I have listened with interest to the points the Deputy raised. Decisions on post offices, as we have indicated, are operational matters for An Post and are not a matter over which the Minister has statutory function. The Deputy outlined clearly that the Minister and the Government have a shareholding. He has asked them to use that leverage to make his views known. As I said, however, he cannot intervene. An Post has an independent board with a clear mandate but both the board and management are doing all they can to maintain the company’s sustainability and relevance to customers in the future. The Minister, his officials and Cabinet colleagues are working to support the company to that end.

The Government is committed to a sustainable An Post and post office network as a key component of the economic and social infrastructure throughout Ireland. The Deputy has raised a social issue in this regard, and it should be heard by the board of An Post.

The programme for Government states that the Government will continue to provide the nationwide services. We need to continue to fund them to ensure their sustainability and enhance the value they bring to local communities. The Department of culture and communications is working to deliver on this. We will work closely in this regard. The Deputy's views are known and they will be raised with the Minister. I will ask the Minister to at least discuss these things with An Post management to alleviate these issues in the Deputy’s area.

Commercial Rates

Deputy Malcolm Byrne

In 1826, 200 years ago, King George IV decided to sign into the law the government valuation of Ireland Act. That set in train the process of commercial rates. This was the way in which local government was funded. A decision was taken to levy rates on all properties. Those rates were determined based on the floor space of properties. In 1979, commercial rates were removed from domestic properties and, following a court challenge in 1984, they were also removed from agricultural properties. We are still in a situation whereby one of the main ways in which local government in Ireland is funded, to the tune of some €1.5 billion per year, is through commercial rates. This is a system that has existed for 200 years, in spite of all the changes that have happened in business since.

The Minister of State knows how enterprise has transformed in that time, particularly with new technology. For example, in my home town of Gorey, there is an Eason and a Bookstation shop, which are both good book shops. They pay commercial rates to Wexford County Council but they compete against the likes of Amazon, the world’s biggest book seller, which does not pay any commercial rates because it does not have a main street presence. Those same main street retailers - it applies to every other sector as well - are also expected to contribute to our communities and sponsor local events, which they all do. Similarly, cafés and restaurants in the hospitality sector rely on large amounts of floor space. The bigger the restaurant, however, the higher the commercial rates. It is not based on turnover.

Many forms of taxation work on the basis of income levels or turnover. I know the Minister has looked for a review around the functioning of local government more generally but this issue relates specifically to how we fund local government. I totally accept this is a political hot potato but in the modern world in which we live, we continue to decide a sizeable junk of local government funding on the basis of the floor size of a particular premise. We should also bear in mind that constituencies offices of TDs are exempt from commercial rates.

From talking to businesses, I know they view this as exceptionally unfair. During Covid, we rightly took the decision to help businesses by suspending the payment of commercial rates. In order to support our main street businesses that we all enjoy and to make it a level playing field with the online world, can we move to a situation where we either access local taxation based on turnover or find a more appropriate way of funding local government? It is bizarre that a system that is nearly 200 years old stills underpins the funding system we use. I have raised this issue on a number of occasions. In order to give businesses a break, I urge the Minister of State to move away from the current commercial rates system.

Deputy Frankie Feighan

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter and giving me the opportunity to clarify the position regarding the basis for the assessment of rateable property for commercial rates purposes and the role of Tailte Éireann in that regard. I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy James Browne.

Tailte Éireann is an independent Government agency that provides a property registration system, property valuation service and national mapping and surveying infrastructure for the State. Tailte Éireann is independent in the exercise of its valuation functions under the Valuation Act 2001, as amended. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne, and the Department do not have any function in decisions in this regard. Tailte Éireann has overall responsibility under the Act for the maintenance of all valuation lists used by local authorities in the calculation of rates liability.

I thank Deputy Byrne for the information he provided. I did not realise that it was King George. Am I correct that he said it was King George?

Deputy Malcolm Byrne

Yes. It was King George IV.

Deputy Frankie Feighan

It was King George IV who introduced the valuations in Ireland 200 years ago. There has been a lot of change on the island of Ireland. Maybe we need to look at the rateable valuation of all property a bit more closely.

A valuation for commercial rates purposes is arrived at by estimating the net annual valuation, NAV, of a property, at a specified valuation date during the revaluation of a local authority area. The term "net annual value" has a legal definition and is set out in section 48 of the Act:

The rent for which, one year with another, the property might, in its actual state, be reasonably expected to let from year to year, on the assumption that the probable average annual cost of repairs, insurance and other expenses (if any) that would be necessary to maintain the property in that state, and all rates and other taxes payable in respect of the property, are borne by the tenant.

This definition of NAV is applied to all rateable properties across the State. The assessment of the NAV of any property is grounded in analysis of the available market evidence at the valuation date and relative to other properties on the list in the relevant rating authority area.

Estimating the NAV of a rateable property, including determining the appropriate valuation methodology, is an evidence-based exercise. The floor area of a property is only one of many factors considered when arriving at a net annual value. During a revaluation, Tailte Éireann analyses relevant market rental transactions for all rateable properties in accordance with the legislation and well-established valuation principles as well as case law arising from the independent valuation tribunal and the higher courts.

Various methodologies may be used in estimating the NAV, which is the rental value of a property. The most common methodology used is direct comparison with other similar properties which, by necessity, includes consideration of the floor areas. In some instances, the receipts and expenditure method of valuation, which relates to the turnover - or potential turnover - generated by a trading property, is particularly relevant in the assessment of NAV.

In other cases particularly for highly specialised properties, a construction cost-based approach in accordance with the provisions of section 50 of the Act may be employed. For the majority of properties such as retail units, offices and industrial units, rental evidence at or close to the valuation date is collected and analysed to establish the appropriate valuation levels to be applied on a rate per square metre basis to similarly circumstanced properties. The rates have been evaluated since 2001. I have heard it myself on the ground that a lot of businesses are quite unsatisfied and that it should perhaps be on turnover. It is a system that perhaps need to be looked at again.

Deputy Malcolm Byrne

The response provided by the Department sets out the process by which it is carried out. I have no question about the professionalism of the public servants who carry it out but it is the principle. The Minister of State made the point about similarly sized businesses with regard to floor space. A bookshop in Gorey, Arklow, Wexford or Sligo is likely to be assessed in broadly the same way but the problem is their competition is the likes of Amazon and online sellers which are not subject to commercial rates. If we want to protect our main street business, which we all do, we have to have a level playing field. When it comes to infrastructure, for example, telecoms towers, rates are often based on turnover of the companies. I ask the Minister of State to take it back to the Minister. I feel passionately about this. The Minister of State knows how important main street shops and businesses are. This is an unfair cost on them. It is not that they are opposed to contributing but why are they put at a disadvantage when it comes to an online space? I could operate a multi-million euro businesses just from my phone and I would not need any floor space but if someone operates in our communities, providing vital services in many cases, it is ridiculous that the tax they have to pay is based on floor space. That was fine 200 years ago; it is certainly not in the case of a modern economy.

Deputy Frankie Feighan

To clarify the position, regarding the basis for assessment of property for commercial rates, I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister, Deputy James Browne, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. While it is not my area, there are areas on which I agree with the Deputy. A lot has been done in updating but perhaps a lot more needs to be done because we are online now with Amazon, etc. The main street needs every support it can get. I was a retailer once. I had two or three retail businesses. Rates were always an issue along with many others. The assessment of NAV is grounded in analysis of the available market evidence at the valuation date. For the majority of properties such as retail units, offices and industrial units, rental evidence at or close to the valuation date is collected and analysed. While it is the Minister's Department, there is a case to have a look at how we rate properties. I was canvassing for the by-election in Connemara in the Gaeltacht area. It came up in a shop and we discussed it. They felt turnover might be better. I speak as an ex-retailer not a politician or Minister of State. I value the Deputy's views. Perhaps it is time to have that discussion again.

An Ceann Comhairle

I welcome some Polish friends who are in the Gallery with the chargé d'affaires, Mr. Artur Michalski. You are most welcome. It is lovely to have you here.

Vacant Properties

Deputy William Aird

The housing crisis continues to affect every town and village across Ireland. It remains one of the biggest challenges facing families, young people, older people and workers. As a TD, I hear every week from people struggling to find a home, buy a home or to cope with raising rents. The message is clear - more houses and more needs to be done. There is no single solution to the housing crisis and no silver bullet. We need a mix of actions. We must increase supply, support first-time buyers, improve infrastructure, speed up planning and make better use of homes we already have. One of the most urgent issues is the number of vacant and derelict properties. CSO figures - not my figures - show there are almost 70,000 vacant homes nationwide. This is a shocking figure at a time when homelessness is rising and families are in desperate need of housing. In Laois alone, there are almost 963 vacant properties. These homes are sitting empty in our towns and villages while people are struggling to find somewhere to live. Many are tied up in probate or legal issues and others need major renovation that owners just cannot afford.

At the same time, more than 17,000 people are living in emergency accommodation, including 5,000 children. If even a portion of these vacant homes were brought back into use, it would make a real difference. It would provide homes for families, ease pressure on emergency accommodation and help bring back life to the towns and villages not alone throughout my county of Laois, which I represent but every county in Ireland. This is a problem that can be seen in all towns and villages.

I welcome the grants for vacant properties and over-shop conversions. I also want to be very positive about the steps already helping to bring them back into use. I thank the Ministers and the Government agencies working on this. We must accept that land will not always be available for the development of houses. This is why we must focus more on the homes we already have which are lying idle. We need stronger supports for that and less bureaucracy, faster planning and probate processes and more incentives to bring vacant properties back into use. At a time when so many people are looking for a home, we cannot allow thousands of properties to sit empty and fall further into decline. Vacancy and dereliction must be a central part of the national response to the housing crisis.

I would like to take this opportunity to advise everybody to reflect on their nearest town or village, take a walk through it and see how many vacant properties there are. Putting aside probate and all the difficulties as regards ownership, there must be something that can be done with a short timeline of 12 or 24 months to see work carried out on them. I do not mean taking them from people but what was done all my life on the council - a valuer values the property at its value on the day. That money is put aside and when the owner comes forward, they are paid the money.

Deputy Frankie Feighan

I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to update the Chamber on what is being done to address vacancy and dereliction. I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy James Browne. The Deputy rightly said we want less bureaucracy and more assistance. Working to end dereliction and vacancy is a key priority of the Government's new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities. The plan will ensure the activities and resources used to address vacancy and dereliction are co-ordinated and that legislative powers are used to make a serious impact on the level of dereliction and vacancy while also being a catalyst to revitalising communities. It is a blight on our cities, towns and villages and especially galling when we are under so much pressure to deliver housing for our people. A range of measures have been introduced, as the Deputy outlined, by the Government to address vacancy and dereliction.

These include the vacant property refurbishment grant and the newly launched vacant above the shop grant and expert advice grant. These grants, coupled with the repair and leasing scheme, planning exemptions for the conversion of vacant commercial properties and the compulsory purchase order, CPO, activation programme, are all working to get as many vacant properties back into use as possible.

A number of national structures have been established, including the dedicated vacant homes unit in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, a property optimisation unit in the Housing Agency and full-time vacant homes officers in each local authority. In addition, the Government's town centre first policy, introduced in 2022, provides a whole-of-government framework to address the decline in the health of towns and support measures to revitalise them. To drive the delivery of town centre first, dedicated town regeneration officers are now established within local authorities, working with vacant homes officers and other local authority staff, to tackle dereliction and develop regeneration initiatives.

The vacant property refurbishment grant, introduced in July 2022, is making a huge difference across the country. The grant provides up to €50,000 for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent. A top-up grant of up to €20,000 is available where the property is confirmed to be derelict, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €70,000. At the end of quarter 1 of 2026, 17,400 applications had been received for the grant, more than 13,000 approved and over 5,300 grants paid to date as refurbishment works have been completed, with a value of over €284 million.

Another important programme changing how local authorities tackle this issue is the CPO activation programme. The programme requires local authorities to take a proactive and systematic approach to tackling vacancy and dereliction, identifying properties and engaging with their owners. Local authorities are encouraged to use their compulsory purchase powers if engagement is not successful, with funding available for them to do so. Support and guidance are provided to all local authorities in implementing the programme by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Housing Agency. These measures are proving effective in reducing vacancy levels and there is real momentum developing right across the country in bringing empty properties back into use as homes.

The Deputy also talked about buildings being in probate. This is another issue we need to tackle but, again, a lot is being done by the local authorities, the Department of housing and all the agencies. I wish it had been done 15 or 20 years ago but a lot is happening. I thank Deputy Aird for his comments.

Deputy William Aird

As I said, I welcome the introduction of the new grant supports aimed at turning vacant buildings and above-the-shop spaces into liveable spaces. I also welcome the €70,000 grant. However, if the Minister of State goes to any town and village in his local area, he will see, given the cost of building and everything else, that despite the €70,000 grant to do up a house, where the individual owns it, it is still very difficult to do. I could cost anything from €270,000 to €300,000 to do up any of these buildings.

We talked about acquisition payments. On the CPO, I thank everybody in Laois County Council who is involved in this. It is a tremendous concept and the council has done an awful lot of work but we need money from the Department. We can have headings and the Ministers, in fairness to them, can do their level best to bring out schemes but the bottom line is this is taking far too long, from the announcement of the scheme to the time a local authority can take it up, get the money and get blocks and boots on the ground. That is not the Minister of State's problem; it is problem in the Department of housing. In regard to the acquisition payments, I guarantee the Minister of State that when a house is subject to a compulsory purchase order, it has to be perfect for living in because you get no money to do up the house. That is a fact and the Minister of State needs to know that. People accuse local authorities of not acting fast enough but if the house is not in turnkey condition, they get no money from the Department to do it up.

On the buy and renew scheme, where a council can CPO houses, while I agree with it 100%, I will give the Minister of State an example. In the case of the County Hotel in Portlaoise, this has been going on for over 12 years and we still do not have confirmation to do it. That is what is really killing people in my area. Why is it taking so long?

It is a no-brainer to do up houses. I remember the main street in Portlaoise. I can remember the main streets in Mountrath, Mountmellick, Portarlington, Abbeyleix and all these places. If we are serious about bringing people back into the heart of a town-----

An Cathaoirleach Gníomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)

Thank you, Deputy. The Minister of State has two minutes to respond.

Deputy William Aird

The Minister of State only said it himself a minute ago. We knew everybody who was there-----

An Cathaoirleach Gníomhach (Deputy David Maxwell)

You are way over time, Deputy. I am sorry. The Minister of State has two minutes.

Deputy Frankie Feighan

I again thank Deputy Aird for the passion he has shown on this very important issue.

Deputy William Aird

There is no need for the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach to shout and roar at me.

Deputy Frankie Feighan

The Deputy rightly raised the issues and the range of measures being taken by the Government to address vacancy and dereliction, which are a huge success. Vacancy levels are declining. An historical level of funding has been made available and this significant investment, through schemes such as the urban regeneration development fund and the vacant property refurbishment grant, is having a serious impact, bringing vacant and derelict properties back to use and revitalising towns and villages across the country.

The Government's new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030, reinforces and expands the range of existing measures being implemented by Government to tackle the issue of vacancy and dereliction. The Deputy is absolutely right. I grew up over a shop, a newsagent on a corner in Boyle, County Roscommon. Three of us lived over the shop. There was no back door and there were 100 people on the street and 100 people on the other street. It was the same in every town and village in the country. It is galling to see that a lot of properties have fallen into disrepair. From a planning point of view, people did not want to live over a shop. The new €95,000 grant for over-the-shop living is going to be a major benefit and will help bring those town and village centres into play. People will also get €5,000 for architect's fees. The measure has only started but I think it will make a big difference.

I would love to see the towns and villages coming back into play, as has happened around Europe. Much of this housing is of a good quality and we need to do an awful lot more. I thank the Deputy for raising an issue that is close to my heart as well. A lot is being done and these new grants will certainly help bring over-the-shop houses back into play. The other grants for refurbishing older buildings have certainly helped. As I said, there have been 17,400 grants paid in the past six or seven years. We are in a better place but we need to do a lot more.

Dáil Éireann debate - Thursday, 21 May 2026