Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 5 Feb 1992

Vol. 415 No. 4

Written Answers. - Derelict Sites.

Eamon Gilmore

Ceist:

30 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the continued problems faced by local authorities in dealing with derelict sites; if he intends to take any additional measures to help deal with this problem, in view of the health and environmental problems created by such sites; if his attention has been drawn to the anomaly in the Derelict Sites Act, 1990, whereby the derelict sites levy cannot be applied to suburban areas of County Dublin because they are not considered to be urban land; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for the Environment (Dr. O'Hanlon)

The Derelict Sites Act, 1990, gives local authorities the powers required to deal effectively with the problem of dereliction and I have no proposals for additional measures in this regard. The derelict sites levy under the 1990 Act was intended to apply primarily in cities, boroughs, urban districts and towns. However, the Act also recognised that there were other areas where dereliction exists and provision was made to apply the levy to such other areas as the Minister for the Environment may prescribe by regulations to be urban areas for the purposes of the Act. Such regulations have already been made in relation to parts of counties Kerry, Kilkenny, Limerick and Tipperary (South Riding). I understand that Dublin County Council are now considering the making of a request to have parts of County Dublin so prescribed. I will deal with any such request as quickly as possible.