Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 480: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to Dublin City Council's derelict sites scheme, which allows the council to compulsorily purchase derelict properties which remain vacant for a substantial period; his views on extending such a scheme State-wide, without the need to CPO the site at market value, as local authorities cannot afford that, but for a nominal sum - for example, a sum equivalent to a peppercorn rent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22249/11]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 481: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to Dublin City Council's derelict sites scheme, which allows the council to compulsorily purchase derelict properties which remain vacant for a substantial period; if his further attention has been brought to other jurisdictions which have such a scheme; and if he has looked at its operation there to see the benefits local authorities here would get from such a scheme. [22250/11]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 480 and 481 together.

I understand that the Questions refer to the actions taken by Dublin City Council in meeting their obligations under the Derelict Sites Act 1990.

The Derelict Sites Act 1990 provides that local authorities are required to take all reasonable steps, including the exercise of appropriate statutory powers, to ensure that any land within their functional area does not become, or continue to be, a derelict site. To this end, local authorities have been given substantial powers under the Act in relation to any such sites, including powers to require specified measures to be taken in relation to a derelict site, to impose a levy on derelict sites, or to compulsorily acquire any derelict site. I expect local authorities to use their statutory powers as they consider appropriate.

Section 19 of the Derelict Sites Act provides for compensation with respect to the compulsory acquisition of derelict sites. The compensation paid is an amount equal to the value (if any) of the site. In default of agreement on the amount of compensation to be paid, the matter will be subject to arbitration under the Acquisition of Land (Assessment of Compensation) Act 1919.

The operation of derelict sites legislation is currently under examination by my Department in the context of the Unfinished Housing Estates Report.