Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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1099.To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the steps he is taking to strengthen and reform the powers available to local authorities to tackle the housing crisis at local levels, for example, expanding the use of compulsory purchase orders, strengthening the ability to pursue non-payment of fines or levies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32271/24]

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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1100.To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government for an update on the review of the Derelict Sites Act 1990, launched in November 2021; when the report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32272/24]

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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1101.To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the actions his Department is taking to work with local authorities in collecting the derelict sites levy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32273/24]

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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1102.To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will issue a circular to all local authorities requesting that they initiate a much-stronger use of compulsory purchase orders on vacant and derelict sites, noting the large disparity between various local authorities in using compulsory purchase orders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32274/24]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1099, 1100, 1101 and 1102 together.

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.

The Vacant Homes Action Plan, which was originally published in January 2023, built on Pathway 4 of Housing for All and set out the various actions that were being pursued to return vacant properties back into use as homes.

An update on the Action Plan was published a year on which shows the significant progress that is being made and it is available here on my Department's website: gov - Vacant Homes Action Plan 2023-2026 (www.gov.ie) .

Under the Action Plan, the third round of funding was announced under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), a €150 million revolving fund for local authorities to acquire vacant or derelict properties (residential and/or commercial), using their compulsory purchase powers where necessary and to carry out any associated works needed to de-risk or improve the property to make it more attractive for re-use or sale. The fund will be replenished from the proceeds received from the end use/user, thereby allowing the local authority to establish a rolling programme of acquisitions in order to tackle long term vacancy and dereliction without recourse to borrowing and the associated financial risk. More than 1,200 vacant and derelict properties have now been identified and approved under the scheme and the estimated residential yield from these properties is 5,406 homes.

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. A focused working group of nominated staff members from a number of local authorities was subsequently established. 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 planning authorities generally.