Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)
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857. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the expected revenue yield (full-year) from an increase in the derelict site levy to 20%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30594/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Based on the current legislative provisions under the Derelict Sites Act 1990, the derelict site levy due nationally to local authorities in 2023 at a rate of 7% of the market valuation of the properties listed on local authority derelict site registers was €5,619,898 and on that basis, an increase in the rate of the derelict site levy to 20% in 2023 would have increased the amount due under the measure to in the order of €16m. My Department is currently engaging with local authorities on the returns for 2024.

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 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 occasionally using their powers under the Act to compulsorily acquire derelict sites.

In relation to derelict homes in particular, my Department is funding full-time Vacant Homes Officers in Local Authorities to support the bringing back of previously occupied homes into residential use. The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant (VPRG) also provides grants of up to €70,000 to eligible properties that are derelict in order to undertake required refurbishment works and make them suitable for residential use.

In addition, where local authorities find that the acquisition of particular derelict properties is the appropriate mechanism to return them to use, they are now supported through the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), which has established 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 make these properties more attractive for re-use or sale.