Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)
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569. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of vacant sites that are identified as per county by each local authority, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8173/25]

Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)
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570. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the amount collected on vacant site levies, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8174/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 569 and 570 together.

Under the Vacant Site Levy provisions contained in the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 (the Act), 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 of the following year.

The most recent progress report on the implementation and collection of the levy by each local authority was collated in Mid - 2024. This information is provided in the attached Table. As the levy is issued in arrears, i.e. on 1 January for the previous

year, the data relates to the period from 2018 to 2023. It should be noted that under section 19 of the Act, unpaid levies due remain a charge on the land in question until they are paid. My Department will continue to engage with local authorities to ensure that all vacant site levies due are paid. Action 15.2 of Housing for All set out that the Vacant Site Levy would be replaced by the Residential Zoned Land Tax which came into effect on 1 February 2025.