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Vacant Sites Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 February 2018

Tuesday, 13 February 2018

Ceisteanna (686)

John Curran

Ceist:

686. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to establish and maintain a central register of vacant sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7353/18]

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Freagraí scríofa

The Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 introduced a new measure, the vacant site levy, which is aimed at incentivising the development of vacant, under-utilised sites in urban areas. Under the Act, planning authorities are required to establish a register of vacant sites in their areas, beginning on 1 January 2017. Planning authorities will be issuing notices to owners of vacant sites by 1 June this year in respect of vacant sites on their respective registers on 1 January 2018, indicating that the levy will apply to those sites on 1 January 2019.

My Department does not maintain a central register of vacant sites. Under the 2015 Act, each local authority is responsible for administering the vacant site register in respect of their functional area. I have no plans to change these arrangements.

However, my Department has actively engaged with local authorities in relation to the implementation of the vacant site levy, holding information seminars for local authorities on 25 May 2016 and 8 November 2017, and issuing a circular letter to planning authorities on the detailed arrangements in relation to implementation of the levy on 1 July 2016.

My Department will continue to monitor implementation of the levy to ensure that it is being fully used, in line with its intended purpose of incentivising the development of vacant or under-utilised sites in urban areas and so that the full potential of the measure can be realised.

Question No. 687 answered with Question No. 684.
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