It is an absolute scandal that we have tens of thousands of vacant properties in this country while people face homelessness and the effects of the housing crisis. I ask the Taoiseach to look into something I became aware of this week. I have written to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council about it. I received a tip-off from a very credible source that there are 22 apartments in an apartment complex off the Stillorgan Road that were handed over for Part V social housing three years ago but have been sitting empty ever since. Those 22 apartments are empty while families are being sent from Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown into homeless hostels in the city and thousands of people have been on the housing waiting list for years. If this report is true, and it needs to be checked, there are 22 apartments earmarked for social housing sitting empty in an apartment complex off the Stillorgan Road. Will the Taoiseach look into this as a matter or urgency? I have written to the CEO of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. This kind of thing just cannot go on.

First, I agree with the Deputy that if this is true, it would be scandalous and unacceptable. However, I do not have the details behind it and I do not know who gave him the tip-off. If he gives me the details, I certainly will pursue the matter because there can be no justification for that.