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	Returning underused spaces to use part of plan to tackle homelessness, says Bailey</p>
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	The Joint Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government is meeting on Wednesday to discuss vacant housing, derelict sites and underused spaces.</p>
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	In the first session of the meeting, beginning at 9.30am, the committee will hear from Dr Lorcan Sirr and Peter McVerry Trust representatives. Later, representatives from the Housing Agency and County and City Management Association will appear.</p>
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	Ahead of the meeting, committee chairwoman Maria Bailey said the focus will be &ldquo;to examine how current programmes and schemes are addressing the issues of vacant housing and derelict sites&rdquo;.</p>
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	&ldquo;Returning these sites to productive use is one part of the suite of measures put in place to tackle the housing and homelessness problem. Our witnesses. . . will provide a valuable insight from their areas of expertise on this important issue,&rdquo; she said in a statement.</p>
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	(Published by the Irish Times on the 1st February 2017)</p>
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	<a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/housing-committee-to-discuss-derelict-sites-vacant-property-1.2959099">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/housing-committee-to-discuss-derelict-sites-vacant-property-1.2959099</a></p>
