Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

203. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware of the current inadequacy of options available to local authorities in dealing with problems associated with derelict or abandoned buildings when the owner of a building cannot be identified; and his plans to address this problem. [32628/15]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

214. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which he has sought or received correspondence from the various local authorities, relating to streetscape decay and commercial urban blight; whether it is possible to isolate the causes with a view to resolution, thereby enhancing the visual and commercial value and appearance of towns, cities and villages, which appear to have been affected in some cases by such blight for several years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32679/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 203 and 214 together.

The Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015, which was enacted in July and commenced earlier t his month, provides for the introduction of a vacant site levy to encourage the development of vacant, under utilised sites in designated urban areas with a view to breathing life back into suchareas, thereby addressing urban decay and bringing vacant sites forward for residential or regeneration use.

The levy - which will be collected and applied by local authorities with effect from January 2019 and every year thereafter as long as the site remains idle – is a significant and innovative new measure which will be charged on the registered owners of vacant sites exceeding 0.05 hectares in urban areas designated by local authorities in their local development plans, at a rate of 3% of the market value of each site, with reduced or zero rates applying in specific circumstances. This lead-in period is intended to allow site owners sufficient time and opportunity to obtain planning permission, initiate development or alternatively sell their sites in order to avoid becoming liable to the levy. The levy proceeds will be earmarked for regeneration and the provision of housing in the local areas concerned.

Supplementary to the vacant site levy, the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015amends Section 10(2) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, to provide that the current objective incorporated in local authority development plans for the “development and renewal of areas in need of regeneration” is broadened to provide that such objective should in future be for the explicit purposes of preventing –

- adverse effects on existing amenities in such areas,

- urban blight and decay,

- anti-social behaviour, or

- a shortage of habitable houses or land suitable for residential use or a mixture of residential or other uses.

This is intended to stimulate local authorities to adopt a more holistic approach in relation to urban decay and regeneration in the adoption of their local development plans.

In addition to the recently enacted vacant site levy, the Derelict Sites Act 1990 requires that local authorities 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. Local authorities have 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. Under the provisions of the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015, the Derelict Site levy willnot be payable in respect of any land on which the vacant site levy is payable.

In 2014, in its Partnership Agreement with the European Commission, the Government agreed that an urban development fund would be established. The Designated Urban Centres Grants Scheme (subsequently launched in July 2015) will enable investments in our main urban centres to the order of €80 million for the period 2014-2020. This investment in sustainable urban development recognises our main cities as the engines of the regional economy, and specifically seeks to increase the number of integrated regeneration initiatives that willimprove the urban environment and revitalise Irish urban areas.

In tandem with this urban focus, the Government has this week reaffirmed its commitment to rural Ireland with the announcement of a new €30m investment in rural towns and villages in the years ahead. The new scheme will support the revitalisation of our rural towns and villages, increase their attractiveness and sustainability, with the aim of improving the living and working environment in rural communities and enhancing their potential to support increased economic activity into the future.

The focus for improvements eligible under this scheme will extend to the enhancement of villages, small towns and the surrounding countryside. Actions will be particularly aimed at enhancing the environmental, amenity and surface structural aspects of these communities and is intended to support complementarity particularly with tourism and conservation of the local heritage measures supported under initiatives such as the LEADER Programme which will also see a further €250m invested in rural Ireland.

The types of projects qualifying for funding support under the towns and villages scheme will include initiatives such as:

-greenways, cycleways, blueways and other environmental initiatives that support economic activity in the area;

-upgrading of parks, civic areas, river walks etc;

-remedial works, general surface upgrading and renovation of relevant derelict buildings;

-access facilities to amenities; and

-property acquisition for site assembly/rationalisation and subsequent redevelopment.

I am confident that this expanded package of measures – some of which have only been recently announced – which are now available to local authorities and communities will assist in providing a much-needed impetus towards revitalising our main urban centres as well as our rural towns and villages in the coming years, so that they are better positioned to take advantage of the upturn in our economy.