Ms Maria Graham:

There can be definitional issues between vacancy and dereliction. There is a spectrum. In the context of the gathering of information for the local property tax, LPT, one of the issues that is being looked at is a tax on vacant properties. Obviously, the scope and what that would include would be important.

From the data we have got from local authorities, many issues around dereliction are to do with ownership and the capacity to activate is quite difficult. You need a number of tools in your armoury to deal with that. Many of the local authorities have been quite successful in issuing compulsorily purchase orders, CPOs, on the property because then one can more readily assure it comes into active, and particularly residential, use. The Housing Agency is developing guidance on issuing CPOs on property. That is a particular area that we are looking at, not only for social housing needs and for affordable housing needs, but also for market-based housing.

Taxation plays a role. Obviously, we are looking at that. We will have the residential zoned land tax. That is looking at the sites.

The Minister for Finance is examining the property tax and consideration is being given to what the extent of that would be. Beyond penalisation of holding the property, we also need incentives to activate the property. That is probably where our focus is at the moment. The more derelict a property is, the more risky it is to bring it back in. The question is whether there is a role for local authorities or the Housing Agency to revamp the project and then put it to the market.

One of the other sources of funding that has not yet come on stream but is being worked on is the European Regional Development Fund, ERDF, which the regional assemblies are looking at. In particular, they are looking at gaps where there may not be other funding streams. Hopefully, that will be finalised in the second quarter of this year. They are looking at the issues of vacancy and dereliction. Mr. Logan will have had a lot of conversations with them. We are trying to make sure there is a suite of actions.