John Cummins (Waterford, Fine Gael)

As the Deputy knows, enforcement of the levy is a matter for local authorities. I see the carrot-and-stick approach having worked to pretty good effect in some local authorities. What I am talking about is the carrot of the likes of the repair and lease scheme, which has worked exceptionally well in my county of Waterford. About 50% of the national total of repair lease units have been delivered in Waterford, with one- and two-bed units in city centre and town centre areas not being used for social housing purposes. Of course, there is the stick of the derelict sites levy and, where required, compulsory purchase orders, CPOs. The collection of the levy is a byproduct, obviously, but I am sure what we both want is for those properties and lands to be brought back into productive use. They are a charge on that land or property, so there may be a time lag in collection. Where something is sold, it is a liability on that land and is collected by local authorities. We want to see collection happening but we also want to see these lands and properties activated.

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