Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
672. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps that can be taken in relation to a vacant property (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40389/22]
View answerThe Derelict Sites Act 1990 imposes a general duty on every owner and occupier of land to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the land does not become, or continue to be, a derelict site. The Act also imposes a duty on local authorities 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, local authorities have been given substantial powers under the Act in relation to any such sites, including powers to require that owners or occupiers take appropriate measures on derelict sites, to acquire derelict sites by agreement, or compulsorily, and to apply a derelict sites levy on the registered owners of derelict sites.
It is open to any person to contact a local authority in relation to a particular site which may be considered a derelict site for the purposes of the Act. Under the Act, local authorities are required to maintain a register of any land which, in the opinion of the local authority, is a derelict site. Under section 8(5) of the Act, a copy of the register for any local authority area can be inspected at the offices of the relevant authority. It is a matter for local authorities to determine the most appropriate use of the legislation within their respective functional areas.
Having regard to the foregoing, if not already done, the first step that should be undertaken by your constituent in relation to this matter should be to bring the property in question to the attention of Kildare County Council and request it to utilise the statutory powers available to it under the Derelict Sites Act on the property concerned.
