Written answers

Tuesday, 1 July 2025

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Derelict Sites

Photo of Tony McCormackTony McCormack (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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103. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the timelines for the national rollout of supports to address derelict buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35850/25]

Photo of James BrowneJames Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Addressing vacancy, tackling dereliction and making efficient use of existing housing stock is a key priority for Government. To address this, a number of structures have now been established including a dedicated Vacant Homes Unit in my Department, a full-time Vacant Homes Officers and Town Regeneration Officers in local authorities, and the publication of a ‘Vacant Homes Action Plan’ to draw together a number of related measures across relevant Government Departments.

In addition, a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) Activation Programme was also launched by my Department in April 2023. The Programme supports a proactive and systematic approach by local authorities to the re-use of vacant and derelict properties. It also includes guidance for local authorities to actively use their legislative powers, including under the Derelict Sites Act, to acquire vacant and derelict properties, where engagement with owners has been unsuccessful. Support and guidance on implementation of the Programme is being provided to local authorities by the Vacant Homes Unit in my Department and by the Property Optimisation Unit in the Housing Agency.

My Department is also supporting local authorities through the €2 billion Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) which is funding critical regeneration and infrastructure projects across the country in our town and cities. In particular, Call 3 of the URDF provided a €150 million revolving fund for local authorities to enable them, where appropriate, to acquire long term vacant or derelict properties in URDF-eligible towns and cities and bring them back into long term use as homes or for other purposes.

Launched in February 2024, the €120million EU Regional Development Fund (ERDF) also supports tackling dereliction through the Town Centre Heritage Revival (THRIVE) scheme and is administered by the Southern Regional Assembly and Northern & Western Regional Assembly. In particular, five urban centres were awarded nearly €32 million in grant funding for the renovation, restoration and reuse of publicly owned vacant and derelict heritage buildings under Strand 2 of THRIVE.

In addition, my Department initiated a review of the Derelict Sites Act and invited local authorities to make initial submissions on potential improvements to the legislative provisions and the way they are applied. Discussions on the review are ongoing and it is intended, in the context of related policies, legislative amendments and funding schemes that have been developed since the review commenced, in addition to the increasing challenges associated with dereliction, to now further consider the potential to improve the legislation and related supporting mechanisms.

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