Despite the problem dereliction presents across the entire State, there were only 1,415 sites across the whole State on the derelict sites register of the various county councils at the start of this year. No property was compulsorily purchased in 17 counties last year and no levies were levied by 14 county councils. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage has introduced a grant scheme to do up derelict houses. That is very welcome but someone cannot buy a house unless it is for sale. Does the Taoiseach think there are only 1,415 derelict sites in this State? If not, what will his Government do to bring about the greater use of the derelict sites levy and the derelict sites framework so these houses will be put on the market and done up and families can move back into them? That is what we need across both rural and urban Ireland.

I think there are more. I take the Deputy's point. I do not think the existing Derelict Sites Act has been effective. That is why the Government is moving to add measures and instruments to deal with dereliction. The urban regeneration and development fund, URDF, has been very effective in respect of dereliction in our cities and our major towns but it is going to take time for it to feed through. The equivalent rural fund will do likewise. The combination of those with the Croí Cónaithe fund will do far more than any derelict sites Act has done with regard to dereliction in our towns and villages. The town centre first policy, which has been published, is a further policy instrument to enable us to reduce and try to eliminate dereliction across the country. Fundamentally, given the enormous housing need, we have to use every mechanism we have to get empty buildings into use.