Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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816. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the funding available to local authorities to support legal fees and costs incurred from CPOs under the vacant sites levy. [20652/21]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Under the vacant site levy provisions in the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015, planning authorities were empowered to apply a vacant site levy of 3% of the market valuation of relevant properties which were listed on local authority vacant site registers in 2018, which relevant owners were liable to pay in January 2019. The rate of the levy increased to 7% for sites listed on local authority vacant sites register from 2019 onwards which site owners became liable to pay in January 2020.

The proceeds of the levy raised on vacant sites by individual planning authorities can be used by them for the provision of housing and regeneration development in the local area in which vacant sites are located. For example, the levy proceeds may be spent on:

- the provision of housing, the preservation/protection of structures of special architectural, historical, cultural interest etc.,

- the provision or improvement of services or facilities for the local community i.e. education, training, recreational, cultural facilities,

- the preservation, improvement and extension of amenities, including recreational amenities, on the land, civic improvements, and

- projects/works for the benefit of urban streets in the area including the improvement of streets/ footpaths in local shopping streets and business areas and the removal of graffiti.

No more than 10% of the levy monies received by planning authorities may be used on their administration costs.

In relation to compulsory purchase orders or CPOs, local authorities are empowered under a number of statutes to acquire land, by agreement or compulsorily, for the purposes of performing any of its functions, including any derelict site situated within their functional area under the Derelict Sites Act 1990. In this context, the exercise of compulsory purchase powers to acquire land is a matter for local authorities and is subject to confirmation by An Bord Pleanála through the appropriate statutory procedure.

My Department can provide full funding to local authorities for sites on which they bring forward suitable new social housing construction projects, including sites acquired by compulsory purchase order. The Programme for Government - Our Shared Future commits to the delivery of 50,000 new social homes over the period to 2025, with a focus on new build, and local authorities will be supported to acquire appropriate sites with a view to delivering on this build programme.