asked the Minister for Local Government if he will amend the Derelict Sites Act, 1961, so that dwelling houses left unoccupied for a considerable time may be acquired by the local authority without great delay and that special provision be made in cases where the owner is outside the jurisdiction of the Irish courts.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unoccupied Houses.
98.
The compulsory acquisition powers contained in the Derelict Sites Act, 1961, are intended for use by local authorities only as a last resort and where all other means available to them under the Act to have sites cleared have failed. The powers of acquisition conferred by the Act are necessary to meet the problem of derelict sites generally but are inappropriate for dealing with the problem of habitable houses which are unoccupied.