Written Answers Nos. 855-876
855. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is prepared to take steps to establish a system of compulsory purchase of residential properties from corporate landlords; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37690/23]
View answerAn adequate supply and mix of housing across all tenures is critical to addressing the current imbalance between supply and demand in the housing market, including for home ownership, social housing and private rental.
Some €13.5bn of development finance is required each year to achieve the current average Housing for All target output of 33,000 homes annually. The vast majority of this is required from private sources and – alongside public investment – is the only way to deliver the housing needed at substantial scale.
Institutional investment is critical piece of this overall investment. Without it, activity in the housing market would be much reduced and the pressure already facing renters and prospective home-owners would increase significantly. Indeed, capital from well-established investors is a normal facet of housing systems in many of our European neighbours and beyond.
In this context, the Government has no plans to establish a system of compulsory purchase of residential properties from corporate landlords, which would likely only bring increased uncertainty for providers of accommodation and landlords and impact negatively on the level of development capital available and required to deliver the quantum of supply need to meet demand in the coming years.
856. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he and/or the NPWS is considering purchasing the Conor Pass site (details supplied) for the purposes of transforming it into a national park, which would be held in public ownership for the benefit of all; the precise status of plans to acquire the Conor Pass site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37695/23]
View answerThe National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department occasionally purchases land for strategic and conservation purposes. Such acquisitions are considered on a case by case basis. In light of the commercial sensitivity of such considerations and the strategic implications of bringing these considerations into the public domain, I am not in a position to comment on any individual site that is offered for sale.
857. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 628 of 25 July 2023, the steps he will take before 24 August 2023 to make sure that the families and children specified will not be made homeless. [37701/23]
View answerMy Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at a local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless accommodation and related services rests with individual housing authorities.
Specifically under Section 10 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 local authorities are responsible for the provision of housing supports to households for the purposes of meeting their accommodation needs, including services provided to homeless persons under Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988.
Where a landlord has issued a notice of termination to a tenant, a number of new measures have been introduced and existing measures were expanded to support the acquisition of the property by the tenant or the local authority, as set out in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 628 of 25 July 2023. They include measures for households that qualify for social housing support and those who are ineligible for social housing.
Increasing housing supply across all tenures is the key to preventing homelessness. My Department continues to prioritise measures which focus on accelerating social and affordable housing supply through a combination of new build, targeted acquisitions and leasing.
Record state investment of €4.5bn is being made available this year to support the largest State home building programme ever, including 9,100 direct build social homes and 5,500 affordable homes.
The Targeted Leasing initiative, which has been set up specifically to target those experiencing or at risk of homelessness, is set to deliver over 400 additional social homes for 2023.
Policy is being developed to help a tenant to buy their rented home on the basis of a landlord offering their tenant first right of refusal.
For 2023, the Government has agreed that there will be increased provision for social housing acquisitions and my Department will fund local authorities to acquire at least 1,500 social homes. The additional acquisitions will be focused on properties where a tenant in receipt of social housing supports has received a Notice of Termination due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property. My Department issued a circular letter to all local authorities in March, setting out details of these arrangements and each local authority was provided with a provisional target for social housing acquisitions in 2023 and these allocations are being kept under review.
These measures are all aimed at preventing households from becoming homeless or to help people exit from homelessness in order to reduce the numbers of adults and children in emergency accommodation. As the implementation of these measures gathers pace we will see their impact on the current homelessness situation become apparent.
Reducing and preventing homelessness remains a top priority for the Government. I will continue to work with the National Homelessness Action Committee to ensure that we address both prevention of entries into homelessness and exits from homelessness as a matter of urgency. My Department will continue to work with local authorities to ensure sufficient funding is made available to support all those at risk of or experiencing homelessness.
858. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason in relation to the local authority home loan income earned only in the Republic and in the North of Ireland is reckonable for eligibility for the loan; if consideration has been given to including income earned in other EU countries as reckonable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37705/23]
View answerThe Local Authority Home Loan is a Government backed mortgage scheme for creditworthy applicants who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build. A ‘Fresh Start’ principle applies for applications to the Local Authority Home Loan.
Single applicants must not be earning greater than €70,000 annual gross income. The combined income of joint applicants must not be greater than €85,000 annual gross income. As part of the eligibility criteria, the primary earner on the application must have at least two years continuous employment, including self-employment, in Ireland or Northern Ireland to be eligible for the Local Authority Home Loan.
Only income originating in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland by applicants with rights of residency and rights to seek employment in the Republic of Ireland will be reckonable in calculating borrowing and repayment capacities. As with any mortgage, applicants need to demonstrate a track record of employment and earnings that would enable them to repay any monies borrowed. As any successful borrower will likely be depending on Irish earnings to repay their mortgage over 25/30 years, it is their employment and earning record in Ireland that is of most relevance in determining their loan application. It is important that all Local Authority Home Loan applicants demonstrate an adequate employment record and repayment capacity.
I note the matter raised regarding income earned in the European Union and I will keep this matter under review.
859. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the plans, if any, he has in relation to safeguarding and preserving the built heritage of Aldborough House on Portland Row; and his views on the campaign by the Dublin Civic Trust, the Irish Georgian Society, and An Taisce to have the building saved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37707/23]
View answerPart IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, gives primary responsibility to local authorities to identify and protect the architectural heritage in their area by including structures of special interest on the Register of Protected Structures (RPS). Inclusion on the RPS places a duty of care on the owners and occupiers of protected structures and also gives local authorities obligations and powers to safeguard their future. I note that the structure in question is already on the RPS of Dublin City Council.
For obvious reasons the State must be selective in its acquisition of historic buildings. Purchasing protected structures solely for purposes of conservation would introduce uncertainty as to where responsibility for safeguarding lies, and may lead to perverse outcomes. Acquiring historic buildings for other public purposes would require a clear plan for their use and a strong rationale in terms of cost and public good. No proposals along these lines have been made to my Department in respect of Aldborough House.
As a building on the Register of Protected Structures, Aldborough House is eligible for financial support provided by my Department through the relevant local authority under the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) and the Historic Structures Fund (HSF). Applications by the owner of the property for HSF support have been successful in recent years, with €50,000 awarded in 2021 for repairs to the cut granite façade, conservation of timber sash windows, and other repairs. This year, a further €44,000 was awarded for further conservation and repair of timber sash windows and the timber panelled entrance doors. These schemes, operated by my Department, provide assistance to owners of historic buildings in following through on their duty of care to these important historic structures.
862. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the long-awaited new fire station for Dunleer, County Louth; the location and details of the development; the key project expected timelines; the total number of staff expected to be employed once complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37720/23]
View answerThe provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for equipment and priority infrastructural projects.
In December 2020, I announced a new Fire Services Capital Programme for the period 2021-2025, with a funding allocation of €61m. Following extensive engagement with fire authorities, a number of proposals for station works etc. were received. The proposals were evaluated and prioritised on the basis of the:
• Area Risk Categorisation of the fire station (population, fire risks, etc.);
• established Health and Safety needs;
• state of development of the project (is site acquired, etc.); and
• value for money offered by the proposal.
This new Programme will see six new fire stations built, continued support for the construction of a further twelve new fire stations, nine fire station refurbishments as well as the allocation of thirty-five new fire engines. In order to maximise the available Capital Programme funding, my Department re-assesses the status of projects in the Programme on an annual basis, and some flexibility is normally available to advance projects that are ready and that offer best value-for-money taking account of the state of readiness of projects more generally.
Louth County Council has indicated that Dunleer is their top priority project, and a new fire station at Dunleer is provided for in this Capital Programme. The Council submitted a preliminary appraisal to my Department in January 2021. Following examination of the proposal, approval in principle for this project issued on 25 June 2021, along with approval for the Council to appoint a design team and progress this project to full design and cost plan stage. Louth County Council are working to finalise the acquisition of the preferred site. Upon final confirmation of site acquisition, Louth County Council will move quickly through the necessary phases to progress the construction of a new station for Dunleer. My Department will continue to work with Louth County Council to progress the Dunleer fire station project.
863. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to detail all the funding that is available for the cleaning and dredging of rivers here. [37735/23]
View answerMy role and responsibilities as Minister do not extend to the maintenance, clearance or dredging of rivers nor does my Department provide funding for this.
I understand that the Office of Public Works (OPW) is the statutory body responsible for arterial drainage schemes under the Arterial Drainage Act 1945, as amended. The OPW also has responsibility for leading and co-ordinating the implementation of the National Flood Policy.
The 1945 Act also contains a number of provisions for the management of Drainage Districts, which is the responsibility of local authorities. In addition, local authorities have responsibilities with regard to ensuring water bodies meet their objectives under the Water Framework Directive.
864. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to detail the allocation of the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) to each county to date, in tabular form. [37736/23]
View answerThe Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) is in place to support local authorities to deliver affordable purchase and cost rental homes for eligible approved housing applicants in line with the ambitious targets set out under the Government's Housing For All strategic plan and the provisions of the Affordable Housing Act 2021. The AHF does not fund affordable housing delivery by Approved Housing Bodies, the Land Development Agency, First Homes, or a range of other affordability measures which are addressed separately.
Specific AHF funding allocations have not been made to individual local authorities. Applications to the fund by local authorities are assessed against a range of criteria to determine suitability for inclusion in the programme. To date, approvals under the Fund have been given for a number of affordable housing schemes for delivery across 20 local authorities that will assist with the delivery of over 4,000 homes for purchase or rent between 2022 and 2027 at a total approved subsidy cost of approximately €350m. This includes a number of projects approved under the earlier Serviced Sites Fund which has been absorbed into the AHF.
Following the publication of Housing for All in September 2021, I asked all local authorities to prepare Housing Delivery Action Plans. Each local authority was asked to assess the level of housing demand with affordability constraint projected for their area based on the Housing Need and Demand Assessment Tool and plan their provision accordingly. A copy of each Council’s Housing Delivery Action Plan is available on their individual websites. 18 local authorities with the highest levels of affordable housing need were set five-year Affordable Delivery Targets.
Each of these local authorities - namely Carlow, Cork City, Cork County, Dublin City, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal, Galway City, Galway County, Kildare, Kilkenny, Limerick, Laois, Louth, Meath, South Dublin, Waterford, Wicklow, and Westmeath - is actively developing and expanding its affordability programme for its area.
It is open to all local authorities to apply for funding under the AHF towards the development costs of an affordability scheme developed in response to an identified housing affordability need in their area. Two further local authorities - Mayo and Wexford - have successfully brought forward applications for AHF funding that have been included in the above figures.
Further assistance with developing schemes is available from my Department, The Housing Agency and the Housing Delivery Co-ordination Office within the Local Government Management Association.
865. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if her Department has or will consider the purchase of the old Parliament from the Bank of Ireland for use as a civic and/or museum site given its importance to Irish history and the underutilised nature of the building in its current form, especially considering the proposed pedestrianisation of the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37744/23]
View answerIt should be noted that the site of the Parliament House, currently Bank or Ireland, is listed on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH). The NIAH survey rates the building under the categories of special interest; architectural, artistic, historical and social. The Parliament House is included on the Record of Places and Monuments (RMP), and as such, is afforded legal protection by way of inclusion in the statutory RMP. The building is also a protected structure in the record of protected structures of Dublin City Council. It is in good repair and well cared for by its current owners.
The building has been a bank since after the Act of Union when it was adapted by prominent architect Francis Johnston for the Bank of Ireland. This long-standing and continuing use is an important aspect of its special interest. Part of the building, the former House of Lords is open to the public. The public also has free access to other significant parts of the interior of the building including the banking hall.
In respect of the acquisition of the property, heritage structures and monuments are acquired as resources and opportunities permit. Generally, this is in the interest of the protection, preservation, conservation and management of monuments or sites. In all cases, my Department examines any potential acquisition carefully, taking into account similar existing properties within the State portfolio, gaps in the State portfolio, any conservation/remedial works required, the short and long term cost of acquisition/maintenance to the Exchequer, and a willingness on behalf of the owner to engage with the State in terms of acquiring the property on a value for money basis.
866. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm that local authorities contribute 10% to the capital cost of all new build social housing (construction and turnkey), and whether they contribute 10% of the capital costs to social housing acquisitions (vacant and tenant-in-situ); and further, to confirm the capital contribution, if any, local authorities contribute to affordable homes delivered via the Affordable Housing Fund. [37746/23]
View answerUnder my Department’s Social Housing Investment Programme, funding is available to all local authorities to deliver additional social housing stock, through construction, turnkey arrangements and acquisitions. Local authorities are recouped the full cost of delivery following the submission of claims to my Department.
Subventions ranging from €50,000 to €150,000 are provided for under the Affordable Housing Fund, with the exchequer cost representing 95% of the subvention and the remaining 5% coming from a Local Authority contribution. Housing delivery being supported by funding approved originally under the earlier Serviced Sites Fund is also progressing with funding comprised of 89% Exchequer contribution matched by an 11% Local Authority contribution.
867. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of investigations of homeless hostels carried out by local authorities, by county, by month, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37758/23]
View answerMy Department's role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services rests with individual local authorities. Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988 sets out the purposes for which costs may be incurred by housing authorities in respect of the provision of homeless accommodation and related services.
The operation of homeless accommodation services are a matter for individual local authorities in consultation with the Management Group of the relevant regional joint Homelessness Consultative Forum, performed in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009.
The National Quality Standards Framework (NQSF) for homeless services is in place nationally for local authority and NGO delivered services. The Framework was developed to ensure a consistent approach in how local authorities and service providers respond to the needs of those experiencing homelessness and to improve the quality of services provided. In general, the operation of these emergency accommodation facilities is contracted out by local authorities, under service level agreements, to NGOs involved in the delivery of homeless services.
Local authorities also carry out inspections on facilities that are not covered under the Framework, as they determine to be appropriate. This regime operates in parallel with the NQSF arrangements.
Separate to the service standards expected of providers via service level agreements, all homeless service providers must meet the requirements of statutory codes, in particular the requirements of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and the Fire Services Acts.
Monitoring of services and the undertaking of site visits under the Framework and for other facilities are a matter for the individual local authorities. Details regarding the inspection of homeless emergency accommodation are not held in my Department, nor does my Department report on these inspections.
868. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the Finnish model of ending homelessness; if he plans to implement a similar model here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37759/23]
View answerSupporting individuals and families facing homelessness is a key Government priority. Through Housing for All, the Government’s strategic housing plan to 2030, the Government is committed to taking action to prevent entries into homelessness in the first instance and to help those experiencing homelessness to exit into secure and sustained tenancies.
The causes of homelessness are complex and individual to each country. The success that Finland has had in combatting homelessness is to be commended and demonstrates that tackling the causes of homelessness, and preventing it in the first place, are key to eradicating homelessness altogether.
Mutual learning is an important tool in combatting homelessness, and to this end my Department and I continue to engage with the European Platform on Combatting Homelessness. My Department has participated in several Mutual Learning Events of the platform over past two years, and continue to do so. These events present opportunities to learn from the approaches of all other member states. The next such event will be held in Brussels in October and will focus on the use of homelessness data in policy making. Separately, delegations from Finland have visited my Department twice in the last 18 months to discuss homelessness and housing.
A key aspect of tackling homelessness in Finland has been the use of the Housing First model. Housing for All committed to the further expansion of Housing First. A new National Implementation Plan, which provides for a further 1,319 tenancies covering the period 2022-2026, was published in December 2021. 373 tenancies have been established under the current National Implementation Plan. 923 individuals are currently in a Housing First tenancy, and Housing First remains a vital tool in combatting long term homelessness.
As well as focusing on the Housing First model in its plans to tackle homelessness, the Finnish government has also placed an emphasis on homelessness prevention, and the most important structural element of this prevention has been an increase in affordable and social housing supply.
869. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider creating additional positions within each of the local authorities' vacant homes office teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37760/23]
View answerAddressing vacancy and making efficient use of existing housing stock is a key priority for Government, as set out in Pathway 4 of Housing for All. In January 2022, my Department communicated with local authorities outlining that funding, made available since 2018 to support the work of a Vacant Homes Office including a Vacant Homes Officer (VHO), would be increased from €50,000 to €60,000 per annum, from mid-2022.
This supports the commitment in Housing for All to ensure that VHOs are full-time. The provision of central funding reinforces the capacity of local authorities, including through the important role of VHOs, to ensure a dedicated focus on tackling vacancy and dereliction with a view to increasing the opportunities for residential development.
All 31 local authorities now have a full time, dedicated VHO in place.
The role of the VHO in each local authority is:
• To actively promote and lead the uptake within the local authority of various initiatives, schemes and funding programmes to address vacancy and bring vacant properties into residential use;
• To actively engage with owners of vacant properties and other relevant stakeholders and promote use of relevant schemes and supports to bring vacant properties into use;
• To collect, monitor and assess vacancy data locally and use that data to actively engage with property owners and promote schemes to encourage activation of properties; and
• Play a communication, promotion and advisory role both internally within the local authority and externally as a contact point for members of the public and key interested parties on vacant homes/properties.
VHOs across local authorities are supported in their work by the Vacant Homes Unit in my Department, and by the Property Optimisation Unit in the Housing Agency.
My Department is currently examining the resources needed to further support the activation of vacant and derelict properties across local authorities.
870. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount each local authority has received from the croí cónaithe towns fund, by month and by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37761/23]
View answerPathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. In July 2022, as part of the Croí Cónaithe towns fund the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was launched to support bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use.
From 1 May 2023, a grant of up to a maximum of €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent, including the conversion of a property which has not been used as residential heretofore, subject to appropriate planning permission being in place.
Where the refurbishment costs are expected to exceed the standard grant of up to €50,000, a maximum top-up grant amount of up to €20,000 is available where the property is confirmed by the applicant to be derelict or where the property is already on the local authority’s Derelict Sites Register, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €70,000.
The grant is available in respect of vacant and derelict properties built up to and including 2007, in towns, villages, cities and rural areas.
My Department publishes data on applications for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant on its website on a quarterly basis, which can be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link: gov.ie - Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant statistics (www.gov.ie)
It is anticipated that grants paid out to applicants will start to be recouped by local authorities from my Department in Quarter 4 of this year.
In September 2022, I launched the Ready to Build Scheme, also funded by the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund. Under the Ready to Build Scheme, local authorities will make serviced sites in towns and villages available to potential individual purchasers to build their homes. These sites will be available at a discount on the market value of the site for the building of a property for occupation as the principal private residence of the purchaser.
In acknowledgement of the administrative overheads local authorities experience in managing the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and the Ready to Build Scheme, my Department is providing initial support to each local authority in respect of processing applications. This support is linked to the number of applications received with €60,000 provided where up to 50 applications have been received; an additional €60,000 where 51 to 100 applications are received and an additional €60,000 where over 100 applications are received by the local authority. A breakdown of funding made to each local authority to date is outlined below:
|
Local Authority |
Funding Claimed |
|
Carlow County Council |
€60,000.00 |
|
Cavan County Council |
€60,000.00 |
|
Clare County Council |
€180,000.00 |
|
Cork City Council |
€120,000.00 |
|
Cork County Council |
€180,000.00 |
|
DLR County Council |
€60,000.00 |
|
Donegal County Council |
€180,000.00 |
|
Dublin City Council |
€180,000.00 |
|
Fingal County Council |
€120,000.00 |
|
Galway City Council |
€60,000.00 |
|
Galway County Council |
€180,000.00 |
|
Kerry County Council |
€180,000.00 |
|
Kildare County Council |
€120,000.00 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
€120,000.00 |
|
Laois County Council |
€120,000.00 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
€120,000.00 |
|
Limerick County Council |
€180,000.00 |
|
Longford County Council |
€120,000.00 |
|
Louth County Council |
€60,000.00 |
|
Mayo County Council |
€180,000.00 |
|
Meath County Council |
€120,000.00 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
€120,000.00 |
|
Offaly County Council |
€120,000.00 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
€180,000.00 |
|
Sligo County Council |
€120,000.00 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
€60,000.00 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
€180,000.00 |
|
Waterford County Council |
€60,000.00 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
€120,000.00 |
|
Wexford County Council |
€180,000.00 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
€60,000.00 |
|
Total |
€3,900,000.00 |
When the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund was launched, a commitment was given that the schemes funded by it would be kept under ongoing review. A comprehensive review and evaluation of the schemes under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund will be undertaken by mid-2024
873. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant sites on the local authorities vacant site register for each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37764/23]
View answer874. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for a breakdown of the unpaid vacant site levies due to each local authority over the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37765/23]
View answer878. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps his Department is taking to assist the local authorities in Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Galway County, Kerry, Kilkenny, Leitrim, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Monaghan, Offaly, Tipperary and Westmeath, to establish a vacant sites register and to enforce and collect the 7% annual vacant sites levy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37769/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 873, 874 and 878 together.
Under the vacant site levy provisions contained in the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 (the 2015 Act), planning authorities were empowered 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 issued Circular Letter PL 03/2023 on 4 April 2023 requesting the submission of a progress report on the implementation and collection of the levy by each local authority. This information is provided in the attached Table.
It should be noted that the vacant site levy arrangements are being stood down and are being replaced by the new Residential Zoned Land Tax which is due to come into effect in 2024 and will be collected by the Revenue Commissioners. Under section 19 of the 2015 Act, unpaid vacant site levies due will remain a charge on the land in question until they are paid. My Department will continue to engage proactively with local authorities to ensure that all outstanding levies due are paid.
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875. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of derelict sites on the local authorities derelict site register for each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37766/23]
View answer876. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the unpaid derelict site levies due to each local authority over the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37767/23]
View answer879. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps his Department is taking to assist local authorities to enforce and collect the 7% annual derelict sites levy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37770/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 875, 876 and 879 together.
The Derelict Sites Act 1990 (the Act) 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.My Department initiated a review of the Derelict Sites Act in November 2021 and invited local authorities to make initial submissions on potential improvements to the legislative provisions and the way they are applied. A focused working group of nominated staff members from a number of local authorities was subsequently established. It is expected that the report of the group will be finalised in the coming months. I will consider the recommendations contained in the report once it is received.
The scope for the engagement of additional staff resources in local authorities to assist in the more effective enforcement and implementation of the provisions of the Act is also being explored in my Department in the context of an ongoing review of the staff resourcing needs of local planning authorities generally.
The attached spreadsheet provides the information requested regarding the number of properties on local authority registers, the amount of levies paid and the amount of levies outstanding.
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