Ms Jude Sherry:

The most common dereliction myth is that we need new legislation to tackle it. Although it is not perfect, the simple fact is the Derelict Sites Act is not fully enforced. We urgently need all local authorities to hire vacant homes officers, register all derelict properties, and remove vacant discount from business rates. We propose Revenue collect the 7% annual dereliction levy and any new vacancy tax and ring-fence it for legal support to local authorities and to establish a one-stop shop.

With the tenth highest vacant homes rates in the world, the majority of which are in our urban centres, it is no wonder many view these places as unliveable. Yet these are the key to quickly, sustainably and cheaply densifying our villages, towns and cities, since all the necessary infrastructure and resources already exist. We simply have to join the European renovation wave with realistic incentives that prioritises urban heritage buildings.

Many of our urban centres need a positive disruption to kick-start their regeneration, otherwise known as a "leaba the", a hotbed of innovation through meanwhile-use of vacant commercial properties, which we launched in collaboration with the Heritage Council’s collaborative town centre health check programme, CTCHC, programme. This is a wonderful regeneration opportunity that needs to be realised.

The culture of owners leaving a building derelict and falling onto the street with no repercussions or costs to them has to end. With our current escalating land and properties prices, owners are rewarded for their bad behaviour from the guaranteed rising asset value. This is not the foundation of a healthy society or economy.

We call on the committee to ensure all effective policy measures are put in place to utilise all vacant and derelict properties in Ireland, as homes or as creative, commercial, community and play spaces. We have identified a toolbox of international policy measures that takes a three-pronged approach to tackling dereliction and vacancy through addressing usage, custodianship and ownership. These include a vacancy tax, compulsory sales and compulsory rental orders, meanwhile use, and stricter building control.

If we do this, the opportunities are unlimited. Tackling dereliction and vacancy provides a unique opportunity to provide homes and places to play, create and work. This is what the people of Ireland want. Let us do it now and end this pointless waste, neglect and vandalism.

I thank the committee for taking the time to listen to us today and taking an interest in derelict Ireland.