Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 April 2024
216. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of derelict sites that a local authority (details supplied) has taken into its possession in the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18567/24]
View answerWhile Local authorities are empowered under a number of statutes to acquire land, by agreement or compulsorily, for the purposes of performing any of its functions, the number of derelict sites acquired within their functional area under the provisions of the Derelict Sites Act 1990 (the Act) are submitted to my Department as part of the annual return on the operation of the Act. The number of sites specifically acquired under the Act by Mayo County Council, both by way of Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) or by agreement, in the years 2022 and 2023 is provided in the Table below.
|
|
No. of Sites acquired by agreement |
No. of Sites acquired compulsorily |
|
2022 |
0 |
4 |
|
2023 |
0 |
1 |
A new CPO Activation Programme was launched by my Department in April 2023. The Programme supports a proactive and systematic approach by local authorities to the activation of vacant properties. It also includes guidance for local authorities to actively use their legislative powers 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 set targets for each local authority on the number of properties to enter the Programme in 2023. Each local authority is to provide data in relation to these properties, activity undertaken by them and outcomes, including the scheme or measure used where the property was brought back into use. My Department will report on the 2023 CPO Activation Programme targets in Q2 2024.
