Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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558. 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. [38850/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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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. 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.

Addressing vacancy 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 Officer in each local authority, and the publication of a ‘Vacant Homes Action Plan’ to draw together a number of vacancy 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.

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 broader planning-related staff resourcing needs of local authorities generally. A Ministerial Action Plan on Planning Resources was published in October 2024, setting out a range of actions to build a sustainable pipeline of planning and related expertise into the future, including a particular focus on local authority capacity, with sanction already provided for over 200 posts in local authorities over two phases.