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Vacant Sites

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2020

Tuesday, 23 June 2020

Questions (924)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

924. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the issues brought to his attention by Galway city and county councils in the recent update provided by the two local authorities in respect of the vacant site levy; if copies of the two updates furnished by the local authorities will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12555/20]

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Written answers

My Department proactively engages with local authorities with a view to ensuring that the vacant site levy achieves its full potential in terms of bringing concerned sites into productive use. In this regard, my Department issued Circular Letter PL 09/2019 on 13 November 2019 requesting the submission of a progress report on the implementation of the levy by each local authority.

The returns from the local authorities indicated that, as of 31 October 2019, there were 359 sites listed on local authority vacant site registers.

The progress report from Galway City Council indicated that it had 6 sites populated on it's register on 31 October 2019 with market valuations yet to be attached to the sites in question. A recent review of Galway City Council’s register shows that these valuations have since been attached to the sites in question.

In its progress report, Galway County Council noted a delay in varying its Development Plan to include an objective relating to the regeneration of, and provision of housing in, designated areas in accordance with section 10(2)(h) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, to facilitate its implementation of the vacant site levy. However, it has completed preparatory work in relation to the identification of suitable sites for the application of the levy.

The Council further noted that given the generally more rural nature of Galway County, there may be less scope to apply the levy in its functional area having regard to the criteria that must be satisfied to apply the levy. The primary purpose of the levy is to incentivise the activation of development of vacant sites in urban areas for housing and regeneration purposes, thereby bringing the sites into productive use. In certain local authority areas, particularly in more rural/ low population counties, housing need may not be as acute as in larger urban areas. Consequently, where the levy criteria are not satisfied in certain areas, there is justification for non-application of the levy in those areas. Currently 8 local authorities have not included sites on their registers.

A further Circular Letter PL 08/2020 in relation to progress on Implementation of the vacant site levy issued on 9 June 2020 and is available at the following link:

https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/pl_08-2020_progress_on_implementation_of_the_vacant_site_levy.pdf

I will arrange for copies of the 2019 progress reports submitted by Galway City Council and Galway County Council to be made available to the Deputy.

Galway City Report

Galway County Council

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