Vacant Sites

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 February 2022

Wednesday, 23 February 2022

Ceisteanna (109)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

109. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant sites identified in each local authority area across the country; the amounts levied in each area under the vacant sites levy; the amounts collected under the levy; the number of sites and the amounts outstanding in unpaid levies in each of the years 2016 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10199/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Under the vacant site levy provisions in the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 (the 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.

The requested information is provided in the attached Table.

Vacant Site Levy

This is based on returns submitted to my Department further to the issuing of Circular Letter PL 03/2021 on 8 March 2021 requesting the submission of a progress report on the collection of the levy by each local authority. It should be noted that under section 19 of the Act, unpaid levies due remain a charge on the land in question until they are paid.