Will an tAire outline the role the Department plays in tackling dereliction, vacancy and the underuse of buildings in rural towns and villages and the plans he has in that regard? In particular, will he outline the way in which the Department is co-ordinating with local authorities and Departments to ensure that funding is linked to housing, transport and community services? Is fadhb an-mhór ar fad í seo.

Sentiment score: 0.29

Is fadhb an-mhór iad na tithe folmha agus tréigthe, agus na foirgnimh thréigthe freisin, i mbailte agus sráidbhailte ar fud na tíre. The State has failed, from Spiddal to Fermoy to Carrick-on-Suir and Loughrea. When driving around the country, I see so many derelict buildings. It is scandalous. It is such a shame for these towns, many of which I have visited. I visit relatives down the country and see this. Dereliction is still visible. The town centre first policy is clearly not working. The policies are not working to address this at the scale needed and to deal with the extent of it. It is just not enough. We still see massive levels of dereliction in villages and towns. This affects many commercial buildings. We in the Social Democrats believe that there needs to be things like compulsory sales orders. These buildings cannot be left for decades.

Sentiment score: -0.07

I want to respond to the claim about social media clips. That is disingenuous. I do not know whether a memo went around Cabinet to try to suggest calling out the Social Democrats for just doing this for social media. It is very demeaning to an elected Member of the Dáil-----

Sentiment score: 0.02

-----to turn around and say he is just doing this for social media. That is very demeaning and disregards the people who have voted for me and us. I am doing this because it is what I know and see. The Minister has pointed to areas that are working and where something has been done. I can point to just as many areas and towns where policy is not working and there are still derelict buildings. Is he denying that there are derelict buildings in towns and villages across the country? Derelict houses and buildings are falling down. What the Government has done is not enough. It is factually correct that there are tens of thousands of derelict buildings, even above shops, that could be homes. The Government will point to where it is doing something, but it is not enough. That is my point.

Sentiment score: -0.08

I did not say "nothing". I said "not enough".

Sentiment score: 0.00