On page 27 of the programme for Government there is a commitment to the establishment of a national register of derelict sites and to using vacant and underutilised sites for housing and urban regeneration. I wish to bring to the attention of the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, an anomaly in regard to particular sites. There are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of sites around the country where there has been a developer-led sewage treatment system that Irish Water currently will not take in charge. Therefore, the local authority cannot take them in charge and they remain in limbo. This will have detrimental effects in the future because any estate that is not properly maintained or taken in charge by a local authority will ultimately deteriorate. I ask the Minister to address this anomaly.

I thank the Deputy for the question. On the broader point regarding vacant sites, since the vacant site levy came into force at least 40 sites have moved from vacancy to construction. Only two years ago, we more than doubled the size of that levy.

In regard to water treatment and developed sites, I am meeting officials today in regard to a couple of investment projects that are under way with Irish Water and some priorities that need to be reset to ensure there are no delays in development because of Irish Water connections or responsibilities not being met, either by that body or by the local authorities, following which I will update the House on the matter.