I refer the Taoiseach to an article published in the Irish Examiner in 2017 which estimated that in the region of 23,000 homes, that is, houses and apartments, were vacant in County Cork. I could bring the Taoiseach to many towns and villages in west Cork in my constituency which have a vacancy rate of more than 50% for many on-street houses. It is even worse again when it comes to those over-the-shop premises where a higher percentage are vacant.

In fairness to the Taoiseach, he said that the provision of housing is our number one priority in government. Part of the answer is staring us right in the face. If we can bring on-street and over-the-shop vacant premises into the market, be that as private or social housing, we will go part of the way to solving the housing crisis.

Thank you, Deputy. The time is up.

The Taoiseach estimated we need 40,000 units per year. Such a move would also reinvigorate and revitalise town centres. Can we have a concrete plan to tackle that issue?

It is a fair point. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in the context of the housing for all strategy, will be making provision for the restoration and the bringing back into use of houses currently idle and vacant in rural areas and in towns. The town centre first policy of the Government's programme will also dovetail with that objective, as well as providing resources to incentivise conversion of over-the-shop premises for accommodation purposes.

Every single avenue to provide additional units of housing must be explored. Those identified by the Deputy are obvious and clear which should be pursued.