Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The problem with that is the Government brought in the local property tax and then slashed the block grants. In fact, local authorities were worse off with the local property tax. For example, one area I represent is Kerry Pike. It is a lovely little village in Cork North-Central. It is five minutes from Apple Computers. The village doubled in size with development and until recently, it had no public lighting and footpaths on one side of the road only. It had 99% compliance with the local property tax but the local property tax, because of paying back loans, has never gone in. That is because block grants were cut.

I will go on to a different issue because I am conscious of my time. An issue that I and my party have been raising is the derelict sites levy, the collection of it and the millions of euro that are outstanding.

Representatives of local authorities have appeared before this committee recently. We have had the four Dublin local authorities, Galway City Council, Limerick City and County Council, Waterford City and County Council, Cork City Council, and last week we had Kildare County Council and Meath County Council. Some local authorities do not collect a cent. The Derelict Sites Act is in existence 32 years yet I think 13 local authorities do not collect a cent while others do not even put sites on the register. The levy should be collected by Revenue. One of my Bills is in the lottery for legislation. What we want to do is force local authorities to act and, if not, they must answer to the Minister. At the moment there are homes where people could be housed, especially as we are in the middle of a housing crisis but local authorities are not putting sites on the register so no levy. I believe this is money that should go towards housing and getting houses back onstream. Is there anything the Minister can do in the Estimates or by himself to encourage local authorities to do their job? It is outrageous that the Derelict Sites Act is 32 years old.