Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 November 2014
239. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce legislation to oblige the owners of dilapidated or defaced properties to repair any vandalism in public view within a short period of time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43722/14]
View answerUnder the Derelict Sites Act 1990, local authorities are required to take all reasonable steps, including the exercise of appropriate statutory powers, to ensure that any land within their functional area does not become or continue to be a derelict site. To this end, they have been given substantial powers under the Act in relation to any such sites, including powers to require specified measures to be taken in relation to a derelict site, to impose a levy on derelict sites, or to compulsorily acquire any derelict site. The administration of the Derelict Sites legislation at a local level is a matter for the relevant local authority. I am, however, satisfied that the Derelict Sites legislation is sufficiently robust and that local authorities are in a position to determine the most appropriate use of the legislation within their respective functional areas.
The Government has also recently approved the drafting of a new Planning Bill, which will include provision for a vacant sites levy. This measure will enable local authorities, should they wish to do so, to apply a levy on property owners of vacant or underutilised sites in central urban areas with a view to incentivising the use and development of such sites and bringing them into beneficial use.
