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Vacant Sites Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 September 2018

Thursday, 27 September 2018

Questions (20)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

20. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 731 of 10 October 2017, the status of the registers of vacant sites for Galway city and county; the number and location of vacant sites on the registers; the steps he is taking to ensure compliance by local authorities with the provisions of the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39086/18]

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Written answers

The Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 introduced the vacant site levy, which is a measure aimed at incentivising the development of vacant, under-utilised sites in urban areas.  Under the Act, planning authorities are required to establish a register of vacant sites in their areas, beginning on 1 January 2017. 

While all 31 local authorities have established vacant site registers, not all registers have been populated to date as some local authorities are undertaking the necessary preparatory work in this regard, such as identifying relevant vacant sites, their registered owners and commissioning the market valuations of such sites. 

My Department does not maintain a central register of vacant sites as each local authority administers the vacant site register in respect of their functional area. As provided for under the Act, the register in respect of each local authority is available for inspection at its offices and on-line on its website.

Following enquiries made by my Department with both Galway City and Galway County Councils, I understand that they are both continuing to undertake the necessary preparatory and site assessment work before entering sites on their registers.

In relation to implementation of the levy provisions generally, on foot of a review of the on-line registers, I understand a total of 16 planning authorities have populated their vacant site registers with over 280 sites, of which over 160 were on registers on 1 January 2018 and in respect of which the levy can be applied in January 2019.  

My Department has actively engaged with local authorities in relation to the implementation of the vacant site levy in order to ensure a consistent application of the levy provisions across all city and county areas and to facilitate the sharing of best practice. My Department has provided guidance and advice and also organised three separate information seminars for local authorities, most recently on 1 May 2018.  My Department will continue to engage proactively with local authorities to ensure the vacant site levy achieves its full potential.

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