Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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223. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of sites placed on the vacant sites register of each local authority since 2015. [48942/21]

Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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224. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of notices issued under section 7 of the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 by each local authority each year since 2015. [48943/21]

Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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225. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the amount levied by each local authority each year since 2018 as a levy under section 15 of the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 known as a vacant site levy. [48944/21]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 223, 224 and 225 together.

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 registers from 2019 onwards which site owners became liable to pay in January 2020.

My Department does not maintain a central register of vacant sites as each local authority administers the vacant site levy in respect of their functional area; this includes site assessment, assignment of market valuation and maintaining a local register. As provided for under the Act, the register in respect of each local authority is available for inspection at its offices and online on its website. Therefore, the specific information requested on the number of sites included on local authority registers or in respect of which section 7 notices have issued is not available to my Department.

My Department proactively engages with local authorities with a view to ensuring that the vacant site levy achieves its full potential in terms of bringing concerned sites into productive use. In this regard, my Department issued Circular Letter PL 03/2021 on 8 March 2021 requesting the submission of a progress report on the collection of the levy by each local authority. A response has now been received from each of the 31 local authorities. The progress reports noted the following:

2018

- 89 sites valued at €132m were liable to the levy at the 3% rate in 2019 in respect of 2018;

- 86 letters issued in 2019/2020 demanding levy payments to a value of €4.1m in respect of 2018;

- €905k in levy payments were received in respect of 2018;

- levy payments of €1.2m are outstanding in respect of 2018.*

(*It should be noted that some sites were de-registered following the issuing of payment demands due to appeal or notification of commencement of development etc. As a result, the amount collected plus the amount outstanding does not equal the value of the demands issued.)

2019

- 181 sites valued at €198m were liable to the levy at the 7% rate in 2020 in respect of 2019;

- 153 letters issued in 2020 demanding levy payments to a value of €13m in respect of 2019;

- €1.18m in levy payments were received in respect of 2019;

- levy payments of €11.5m are outstanding in respect of 2019.

2020

- 215 sites valued at €268m were liable to the levy at the 7% rate in 2021 in respect of 2020;

- 79 letters issued in 2021 demanding levy payments to a value of €11.8m in respect of 2020;

- €21k in levy payments were received in respect of 2020;

- levy payments of €14.3m are outstanding in respect of 2020.

It should be noted that the vacant site levy is collected in arrears. The levy due in respect of 2020 is collected in 2021. Local authorities are still issuing demands in respect of 2020. A number of local authorities noted delays in issuing payment demands in respect of 2020 due to COVID-19. Local authorities will continue to issue demands for payment of the levy in respect of 2021.

All levies due on an individual site will remain a charge on the land concerned until all outstanding levies due are paid. Accordingly, under the vacant site levy provisions, there will be a cumulative effect associated with not activating a site for development purposes for each year that a site remains vacant or idle and in respect of which levy liability is not paid.