Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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59. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the derelict sites levies collected by each local authority in 2021; the amount levied; the number of sites on each register and the cumulative amount owed by local authority, in tabular form. [33138/22]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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The table below contains the information requested regarding the operation of the derelict sites levy, as per the most recent returns from local authorities relating to the year 2020. Figures for 2021 are not yet available. My Department recently issued Circular Letter PL 05/2022 requesting the submission of returns on the operation of the Derelict Sites Act in 2021.

My Department continues to liaise with local authorities on the implementation of the Derelict Sites Act with a view to improving its effectiveness. In this regard, my Department initiated a review of the Act in November 2021 and has sought initial submissions from local authorities on potential improvements to the legislative provisions and the way they are applied. My Department is now in the process of establishing a focused working group to speedily progress this matter further and has been in contact with the Local Government Management Agency in relation to the nomination of relevant local authority officials to participate in this review.

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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60. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of units by local authorities that his Department estimates to be vacant and or derelict. [33139/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Housing for All (published in September 2021) provides a new housing plan for Ireland to 2030 with the overall objective that every citizen in the State should have access to good quality homes through a steady supply of housing in the right locations, with economic, social and environmental sustainability built into the system. The strategy sets out, over four pathways, including a pathway to addressing vacancy and the efficient use of existing stock, a broad suite of measures to achieve its policy objectives together with a financial commitment of in excess of €4 billion per annum.

The most recent figures available from Census 2016 figures indicate that there were approximately 183,000 vacant homes nationwide, which is a 20% reduction on figures reported in Census 2011 (230,000). Census 2022 will provided an updated position once published.

In addition, work underway by the Department of Finance through the current Local Property Tax returns will also assess the vacancy situation. Once collated and analysed this data will provide another new data set on vacant homes including for my Department and local authorities.