It's time for senior politicians to confront the crisis of vacant properties in rural areas.
That's according to Fine Gael councillor Michael Foley, who says there's a crisis in North Kerry with the number of vacant properties which could easily be brought back into use.
Cllr Foley says government should devise a scheme to incentivise vacant property owners to sell or rent, possibly through tax relief, and young families should be given a special grant to buy these properties.
The Fine Gael councillor criticised the Repair and Lease scheme, aimed at incentivising owners to lease vacant properties, which he says is a complete waste of time and should be replaced.
Cllr Foley added the government needs to step outside Dublin and look at what's happening in rural Ireland, as a positive take up of vacant properties would transform towns and villages, and local economies.
