asked the Minister for the Environment if he has any legislative plans to cover the situation regarding vacant houses which fall into disrepair and are left unattended by their owners, which is causing great distress to local residents.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Vacant Houses.
16.
A new derelict sites Bill is being drafted at present which will considerably strengthen the powers available under the existing Derelict Sites Act, 1961. I propose to place a new and express obligation on all owners of land to prevent it from becoming or continuing to be derelict and give local authorities the duty and the power to ensure compliance with this obligation. The new legislation will improve the situation which exists at present by allowing local authorities to take action at an earlier stage of dereliction and should directly assist efforts to prevent the running down of residential areas where houses are left vacant by their owners. I hope to bring forward these legislative proposals as soon as possible.
I would also like to draw the Deputy's attention to the provisions of sections 66 to 69 of the Housing Act, 1966, in relation to houses which are unfit for human habitation.
I welcome the Minister's intentions but can I ask him if he is aware that in Dublin, presumably because of the economic climate, there are hundreds of abandoned houses, the owners of which received loans from the Housing Finance Authority or from the SDA scheme. Because the owners received local authority or Housing Finance Agency loans has the Minister or local authorities any power at present to tackle this terrible problem which arises not alone in Tallaght but also in areas such as Crumlin and Drimnagh?
I am aware of the problem the Deputy has referred to. I have read reports and figures on this and I would not like to put any firm marker down as to whether they are accurate except to say that I believe the figure is in the hundreds.
In many cases the owners received SDA loans and Housing Finance Agency loans. Does the Minister have powers in that case?
The local authority have such extensive powers under sections 66 to 69 of the Housing Act, 1966. I suggest to the Deputy that he might pursue that matter with his local authority.
Can I ask the Minister if he would remind local authorities about those powers? It is a major problem in urban areas and local authorities do not seem to know that they have those powers. Would the Minister remind local authorities of the powers they have in this regard?
We can bring to their notice the terms of the 1966 Act which makes very extensive powers available to the local authorities within its framework.
I recall that the last time we spoke in this chamber with the Minister for the Environment at Question Time this same topic was raised. At that time I pointed out to the Minister that if he so wished we could visit, within 500 metres of this building, houses that are derelict under any definition. The Minister undertook to contact Dublin Corporation specifically in relation to derelict property, that is the housing to which Deputy Mitchell referred, which for want of an additional maintenance allocation they are unable to make good. Having reminded the Minister of our previous exchange in this House, I want to ask him first what action he proposes to take in relation to the matter I have referred to and, secondly, whether the Bill, to which the Minister referred in relation to the question that was asked, proposes to take in all of the derelict property currently owned by public authorities throughout the country and specifically the property owned by Dublin Corporation in the city?
The matter was raised by Deputy Mitchell in relation to a previous question before Deputy Quinn came into the House. The answer to all those questions is yes.
The answer to what question is yes?
The answer to the Deputy's first question is that there will be a new derelict sites Bill before the House in the very near future. It is at the final stages of drafting. The answer to the Deputy's second question is that the Bill will also deal with derelict properties which are maintained by local authorities.
Further to the Minister's reply can I ask him if, subject to the previous encounter we had in this House, he or his officials have had direct discussions of any kind with Dublin Corporation about the derelict housing they currently have responsibility for?
I did not have any direct discussions with the local authority but in response to Deputy Mitchell's request I will bring the powers they have to their notice and give them a good briefing on what they can do.
Can I ask a final supplementary?
A final supplementary from Deputy Mitchell.
Is the Minister aware that where abandoned houses are in terraces they can be a fire or health hygiene danger? This is an aspect I am very concerned about and it arises regularly. Will the Minister look at the powers he has in relation to health hygiene and the prevention of fire to ensure that local authorities can at least secure abandoned premises? This is a big problem in most areas. If a house is abandoned the windows and doors are left open and there is a danger to the neighbouring houses from a fire or health hygiene point of view.
That is covered under section 66 of the Housing Act.
Do the local authority have any power in those circumstances?
I think they do. I think the Deputy will find sections 66 to 69 of that Act very educational. If those powers are diminished or need to be strengthened in any way obviously that is a matter to which I would have to give urgent consideration.
(Interruptions.)
That is rubbish.
Question No. 18.
What the Minister is saying is absolute rubbish.
Deputy Quinn came into the House in a very cross mood today and that is not his normal practice.
I did and I will address it at 3.30 p.m. because the Minister has refused to answer another question.
Question No. 18.