Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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153. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to increase collection of the derelict sites levy; to increase the number of sites on the register and the actions he is taking to ensure local authorities fulfil their statutory obligations in terms of the Derelict Sites Act 1990. [30452/24]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Derelict Sites Act 1990 (the Act) 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. The enforcement and implementation of the provisions of the Act is a matter for individual local authorities.

A property can be placed on the derelict site register where it is deemed by a local authority to satisfy the criteria of a derelict site under the terms of section 3 of the Act i.e. (i) it is in a dangerous or ruinous condition; (ii) it is in a neglected or unsightly condition; or (iii) there is a presence of litter, waste or debris on the site. A property cannot be placed on the derelict site register of a local authority simply by being vacant.

It is also worth noting that placing sites on the derelict sites register, and collecting levies in respect of those sites, is not the sole mechanism that local authorities apply under the Act in relation to bringing sites back into use. They often engage collaboratively with property owners with a view to necessary works being undertaken to bring sites back into use while also using their powers under the Act to compulsorily acquire derelict sites.

My Department initiated a review of the Derelict Sites Act in November 2021 and invited local authorities to make initial submissions on potential improvements to the legislative provisions and the way they are applied. The group met on three occasions during 2022 and discussions on the review are continuing to date. I will consider the recommendations contained in the report of the working group once it is received.

The scope for the engagement of additional staff resources in local authorities to assist in the more effective enforcement and implementation of the provisions of the Act is also being explored in my Department in the context of an ongoing review of the staff resourcing needs of local authorities generally.