Dáil debates
Tuesday, 1 July 2025
Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions
Vacant Sites Levy
9:05 am
John Cummins (Waterford, Fine Gael)
As I said, the Government has put in place a number of schemes to empower local authorities on the exact thing the Deputy just mentioned. There is a revolving fund through URDF call 3 for the compulsory purchase of properties. It is true that some local authorities are doing better than others. We want to mainstream best practice across all local authorities. There are also other schemes such as repair and lease, buy and renew and the vacant property refurbishment grant, which are all there to be able to activate those properties. Where they are not being activated, yes, the stick of the CPO and of the derelict sites register has to be applied by local authorities. I do not disagree with the Deputy on that. Of course, they are there to be used. What we all want is for those units to be brought back into productive use. If engagement with the owner of those properties and availing of some of the other schemes does that, that is great; if it does not and we use the CPO or the Derelict Sites Act then so be it.
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