Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 May 2023
415. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what powers he has to compel local authorities to form a vacant sites register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22933/23]
View answer416. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the administration of the vacant sites levy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22934/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 415 and 416 together.
Under the vacant site levy provisions in the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 (the Act), planning authorities were required to establish a register of vacant sites in their functional areas, beginning on 1 January 2017.
The Act empowered planning authorities to apply a vacant site levy of 3% of the market valuation of relevant properties which were listed on local authority vacant site registers in 2018, which relevant owners were liable to pay in January 2019. The rate of the levy increased to 7% for sites listed on local authority vacant sites registers from 2019 onwards which site owners became liable to pay in January of the following year.
My Department recently issued Circular Letter PL 03/2023 requesting the submission of a progress report on the implementation and collection of the levy by each local authority in respect of 2022. The returns received are currently being processed and verified with local authorities and the information requested will be provided as soon as the final returns have been compiled.
