Derelict Property Tax welcome but additional measured needed, says Councillor
Kenneth Fox
The Green Party’s group leader on Dublin City Council, Cllr Janet Horner, has called on the Government to ensure the new Derelict Property Tax works effectively by introducing important additional measures.
Commenting on the announcement that the new tax will be included in the Finance Bill this year, Cllr Horner said: “Reform of the derelict sites levy is long overdue.
"Dereliction is a blight in Dublin City and in towns and cities all over the country. But without additional measures, it will fall into the same pitfalls of the previous levy that led to low enforcement and left it ineffective.”
“There is much more the government must do if we are to meaningfully tackle dereliction."
“Our Derelict Sites Register in Dublin barely scratches the surface of the level of dereliction in our city. The Council doesn’t have the capacity to proactively examine and register derelict properties, so it relies on reacting to reports from the public.
"Inevitably, this means that sites of high visibility and public interest are registered, but many others escape notice - particularly in quieter streets, in laneways or areas where neglect has settled in long-term.”
Horner called for a clear and robust definition of dereliction. A significant issue with the current derelict sites register is that there is no definition of dereliction, which leaves the designation open to dispute. If the new tax repeats the same mistake, it will be much less effective.
“In Dublin Central we have a significant problem with derelict properties hidden away in laneways.
"We need better resourcing of local authorities so that they can get to grips with this and properly identify these properties that have lain idle for so long when they could be housing families.”
She said at a national level, in situations where a property is long-term derelict and the tax is in arrears, there is a need for compulsory sale orders, in addition to compulsory purchase orders.
The Councillor said it will shift the burden off local authorities, who will never be able to CPO every derelict property in their areas, and will release these properties to the families who really need them.
“Dublin is an incredible city, but dereliction is letting us down badly. We deserve more than lip service paid to fighting dereliction - we need robust laws and a vision for a better, thriving city," she said.
