Ms Mary Hughes:

I wish to deal with some of the issues raised, in particular about vacant sites. We completely agree with the Deputy. There are lessons to be learnt from the derelict sites register. However, I suggest that the vacant sites levy, as drafted in the heads of the Bill, will result in the same difficulties being encountered as with the derelict sites provision, in particular in terms of identifying ownership. One of the big issues is the huge amount of resources required to manage the vacant sites levy in terms of establishing a register and to pursue issues actively and ensure results are achieved. Deputy Murphy is correct that there is much to learn from the derelict sites legislation.

Deputy Murphy spoke about the definition of a derelict site. There is no proposed definition currently in terms of what constitutes a vacant site. Are we talking about undeveloped land, a brownfield site or vacant buildings? In the opinion of the institute, a vacant levy should apply to buildings in as much as it does land if the whole purpose is to regenerate and stimulate growth in town and urban centres. In that regard, what the institute would suggest is that rather than tackle the issue on a piecemeal basis, why not simply seek a land tax levy on land that is zoned for development purposes and which has been enhanced in value because it is zoned for a purpose? We believe that would perhaps be a more straightforward approach if it is felt that a levy is the way to go to stimulate growth. Overall, our mantra in relation to it is that we need to look more proactively at it. Reference was aptly made to the Clonakilty model which was only achieved because of a dedicated county architect living in the town.

In terms of the affordable housing element, perhaps it might be more appropriate to defer it to the Housing Agency to respond to that. We have come from a situation where we had social and affordable housing. The affordable element is now dropped and the institute's position is to consider whether we are certain that it should be dropped, in particular in urban centres that are experiencing a bit of pressure currently in terms of affordability. Again, that could be dealt with through the supply side. Perhaps the Housing Agency will address the matter further.