Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 October 2021
451. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding provided to each local authority in 2019, 2020 and 2021 to enable it to take possession of derelict sites and proceed to have them registered in its name; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50604/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe funding of the acquisition of sites by local authorities, whether through compulsory purchase under the provisions of the Derelict Sites Act or otherwise, is related to the purpose for which the local authority uses the site. For example, my Department provides full funding to local authorities for sites that are used for social housing developments, while other Departments will support sites used for programmes that they support in line with the functions of the local authority. Aside from providing for the derelict sites levy - the proceeds of which are retained by local authorities - and associated provisions, the Derelict Sites Act 1990 does not address the issue of funding for local authorities to address dereliction or the acquisition of derelict sites.
Accordingly, the proportion of the overall annual budget provided by my Department to each local authority which is spent on compulsory acquisition is not available from my Department but may be available from individual local authorities.
Specific funding, to tackle dereliction in major towns and cities, may be made available through the integrated projects being supported by the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) which was launched in 2018. This fund is targeting financial support in an integrated, dynamic and responsive way to support the regeneration and rejuvenation of our towns and cities. Already, the URDF is providing assistance for major projects that will contribute to meeting the objectives of the National Planning Framework and National Development Plan.
The role of the URDF in ensuring that housing stock is used efficiently is acknowledged in Housing for All, along with a range of actions to bring vacant stock back into use. This includes the publication of the Town Centre First policy in the coming weeks.
