Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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311. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will request local authorities to register a property on the derelict sites register in cases in which it is declared as uninhabitable by the owner in their local property tax return, with a view to maximising the number of residential units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48552/22]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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The Derelict Sites Act 1990 imposes a general duty on every owner and occupier of land to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the land does not become, or continue to be, a derelict site. The Act also imposes a duty on local authorities 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. Local authority powers include requiring owners or occupiers to take appropriate measures on derelict sites; acquiring derelict sites by agreement, or compulsorily; and applying a derelict sites levy on derelict sites.

It is a matter for local authorities to determine the most appropriate use of the legislation within their respective functional areas.

My Department continues to liaise with local authorities on the implementation of the Derelict Sites Act 1990 (the 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 has now established a focused working group to progress this matter further.