Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)
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1728. 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 or strengthening the ability to pursue non-payment of fines or levies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44381/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Addressing vacancy and making efficient use of existing housing stock is a key priority for Government, as set out in Pathway 4 of Housing for All.

The Vacant Homes Action Plan, published in January 2023, built on Pathway 4 and set out the various actions that were being pursued to return vacant properties back into use as homes. In March I published the 2025 Progress Report which shows the significant progress that is being made and it is available on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/df86c-vacant-homes-action-plan-2023-2026/

One of the actions in the Plan was the launch of the CPO Activation Programme by my Department in April 2023. The Programme encourages a proactive and systematic approach by local authorities to address vacancy and dereliction.

As part of the Programme, guidance and supports are provided for local authorities to actively use their legislative powers under the Housing Act 1966 and the Derelict Sites Act 1990 to compulsorily acquire vacant and derelict properties, where engagement with owners has been unsuccessful.Implementation of the Programme requires cross team co-operation and co-ordination in each local authority to support a focused approach to addressing vacancy and dereliction. This is occurring in local authorities with reorganisation of staff resources and establishment of other structures to support co-ordination.

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 as defined in the legislation. 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.Each local authority maintains a Derelict Sites Register under section 8 of the Act for sites which they consider are derelict under the Act. Sites entered on the Derelict Sites Register are subject to an annual derelict sites levy of 7% of market value which will continue to apply until the site is rendered non-derelict.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.

My Department also provides funding of €60,000 per annum to support each local authority's Vacant Homes Office, including a Vacant Homes Officer (VHO) to ensure a dedicated focus on tackling vacancy and dereliction. Since 2023, all 31 local authorities have a full-time VHO in place.

The VHOs play a vital role in delivering and advancing measures to tackle vacancy and dereliction in each local authority. This work involves engaging with the owners of vacant and derelict properties and promoting uptake of supports such as the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, Repair and Leasing Scheme, as well as other initiatives such as the Planning regulations which exempt certain vacant commercial premises from requiring planning permission to change to residential purposes.

VHOs also coordinate with colleagues across the local authority in Planning, Derelict Sites, Town Regeneration and other teams in their local authority with the overarching objective of tackling vacancy and dereliction.

The new Programme for Government includes a range of commitments to tackle vacancy. It also contains commitments to streamline Compulsory Purchase Order powers. This will be considered by the relevant Departments.