Many Galway towns and villages are derelict. They contain unoccupied buildings located near services. There is a housing shortage and younger people are locked out of the housing market. There is also a massive shortage of medium to long-term rental properties.
Galway County Council needs to
1. Implement the derelict buildings act. A few high profile cases might get things moving and encourage property owners to sell their derelict premises.
2. Abandoned retail/business premises located in towns and villages should be considered for repurposing as residential property. The council needs to be more flexible in this regard.
3. The short-term 'Air B&B' type of rental arrangements are having a very detrimental effect on the ability of young workers (especially in picturesque towns and villages) to embark on medium or long term renting. Galway County Council need to implement the existing legislation in relation to short term rentals.