John O'Mahony (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Let me clarify a situation in respect of the vacant sites levy. There are different requirements in rural and urban Ireland. In my town of Ballaghaderreen people are receiving letters about vacant sites for which planning permission was never sought. They were used as farmland. When I inquired, I found that there were 352 vacant houses in Ballaghaderreen. Why is there a levy on land that is not needed? It would be totally off the wall if this land was to be developed because there would be no demand for it. Will there be clarity for local authorities or a circular sent to them to the effect that the vacant sites will be geared to meeting the needs of the area? Derelict sites are another issue. I know sites which have been derelict for the past 50 years adjacent to where I live and nothing has happened with them. There is a need for clarity. Legislation such as this should never be a revenue collecting measure. It should be to meet the needs of and enhance local areas, but that is not what the outcome will be, particularly in rural areas.