Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 November 2021
5. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the support his Department is providing to local authorities in the collection of derelict site levies in view of the fact that less than 3% of possible revenue was collected in 2020 nationally. [55417/21]
View answerWhat support is the Department providing to local authorities for the collection of derelict site levies in view of the fact that less than 3% of possible levies was collected in 2020?
The Derelict Sites Act 1990 confers significant powers on local authorities to tackle the problem of dereliction in our towns and cities. The application of the derelict sites levy is only one of those powers which also include requiring owners or occupiers to take appropriate measures on derelict sites and acquiring derelict sites by agreement or compulsorily. It is a matter for the local authority to determine the most appropriate use of the legislation within their respective functional areas. Addressing vacancy and maximising the use of existing housing stock is a primary concern for this Government, as demonstrated by the fact that one of our four pathways is dedicated solely to this priority area in the new Housing for All strategy. Work is under way in the Department of Finance, through the current local property tax returns, to assess the present vacancy situation and once collated and analysed, this data will contribute to a number of the policy initiatives outlined in Housing for All, including a new local authority-led programme to help local authorities buy or compulsorily purchase 2,500 vacant homes in their areas which can then be sold on the open market and will ensure homes do not lie vacant; reform of the fair deal scheme to remove disincentives to selling or renting unused homes; the Croí Cónaithe fund, which will be delivered by local authorities for the provision of service sites for housing to attract people to build their own homes and support the refurbishment of vacant properties, enabling people to live in small towns and villages in a sustainable way; and our new towns first policy, which will include approaches to utilising stock and new financial incentives. These measures are in addition to the vacant property tax consideration being pursued by the Department of Finance. The Department intends to engage with the local authorities in a proactive way and continue to do so and to ensure effective enforcement of the provisions of this legislation. It also intends to carry out a review of the Act, which has been improving its effectiveness since 1990.
There was potential to collect €12.5 million in levies last year but instead, only €378,763 was collected. That figure was released to me in a reply to a parliamentary question. It is disappointing. In fact, it is a scandal and it is happening under this Minister's watch. All across this State, potential homes are being left to rot every day. That is clearly a Government problem. Not one single local authority has collected the full levy, with the majority collecting nothing at all. This is not a case of local authorities dropping the ball. It is a case of systematic underfunding and a failure to support local authorities. The most powerful tool local authorities have for returning derelict houses to the housing stock is the derelict sites levy. Some 30 local authorities did not impose any such levy and 21 local authorities did not collect a cent.
It is definitely not for the want of support from central government to local authorities. That can be proved with evidence. If one is to critically evaluate the network, one should look at Waterford. Almost 55% of Waterford's repair and leasing scheme has been utilised. That is delivering properties on the ground. I was there to see it first-hand. One should look at how compulsory purchase orders are used in Louth to deliver local properties that were derelict back into use. There is €50,000 available from the Department and every local authority will be required to have a full-time vacant homes officer by the end of the year. Many of those officers are currently working part time, notwithstanding the fact that the Department gives €50,000 per annum towards a salary for a vacant homes officer. Only three local authorities employ a vacant homes officer on a full-time basis. We are going to be strictly monitoring that situation. Some €12 million will be available next year for the repair and leasing scheme. That money will be used right across the local authority network. The Department of Finance will be applying the vacant homes tax. We are getting the data for that initiative through the property tax re-evaluation this November.
I am not sure if the Minister of State understands the question. He started talking about the vacant homes officer but I am talking about derelict sites, which is a different matter. Thousands of derelict sites and buildings around the State are being left to rot. COP26 is going on at the moment and the most sustainable way of reducing our carbon footprint is to repair and retrofit houses that already exist. It is a win for everyone. It is a win for local authorities because housing stock can be turned around more quickly. More importantly, it is a victory for people who need homes and we protect the environment at the same time. There are now 100 derelict sites within the Cork City Council area. Frank O'Connor and Jude Sherry did a survey and identified 400 derelict sites across each local authority in Cork.
This is the case in every local authority area. Scandalously, the Minister of State and his Department allowed landlords to get away with derelict sites that are destroying communities.
I know exactly what I am talking about. I have been in Waterford, as I alluded to-----
That is the agency-----
Let me finish. I saw derelict sites being brought into use through the utilisation of schemes of the Department. I ask the Deputy to engage with his local authority to ask it what it is doing regarding the 400 houses he mentioned. The support exists in the Department to bring them back into use. I ask the Deputy to take up the question of why they are not being brought back into use.
The Law Reform Commission is continuing to review the compulsory purchase order, CPO, process. On a larger point, on the Croí Cónaithe fund, our towns-first policy, we are unlocking the potential of cities and towns and bringing derelict and vacant properties back into use through sustainable tenancies. The Government is singularly focused on trying to offer the opportunity to have a sustainable tenancy to all citizens.
