Local authorities owed €26.3m in unpaid levies on derelict sites
Michael Bolton
Local authorities imposed levies of almost €8.6 million on the owners of 778 derelict sites across the country last year, but succeeded in collecting less than 10 per cent of this amount, new figures have revealed.
A total of €26.3 million remained outstanding in respect of unpaid levies at the end of 2024, and 1,916 sites were on the derelict sites register, according to a report published yesterday by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
Since 2020, councils are entitled to impose a derelict sites levy of up to seven per cent, and unpaid fines accrue interest at a rate of 1.25 per cent per month.
Almost €2.2 million was collected by local authorities last year.
A total of 2,869 notices or demands have been issued by local authorities in respect of derelict properties under the relevant legislation.
More than 10 per cent of these were issued by Cork City Council.
Limerick City and County Council issued 267 notices or demands, while Dublin City Council issued 245.
No notices or demands were issued in Leitrim, while only two were issued in Wicklow, and six in each of Donegal, Offaly and Sligo.
Some 427 derelict sites were registered in Limerick, while 284 were located in Mayo, along with 158 in Cork City, and 109 in Dublin City.
The lowest numbers were found in Wicklow (two) and County Galway (three).
A total of €7.9 million was owed to Dublin City Council in respect of levies imposed under the Derelict Sites Act 1990, and another €5.9 million was owed by the owners of derelict sites in Cork City.
Issues were resolved and no further action was required in 566 cases following the issuance of notices or demands, according to the latest report. Five derelict sites were acquired by agreement, and 126 were acquired compulsorily.
Wexford had 122 properties on the derelict sites register at the end of last year, while 123 derelict sites were located in County Cork. Clare had 92 registered derelict sites, and Kerry had 39.
A total of 50 derelict sites were on the register in Louth, with another 28 in Longford, 23 in Leitrim, and 40 in Laois. Kilkenny had 36 derelict sites, while Kildare had 56, and Cavan had 24.
In the capital, 17 derelict sites were registered in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, 15 were registered in Fingal, and 23 were located in South Dublin, in addition to 128 registered in the city.
Last year alone, Limerick City and County Council imposed levies on 192 derelict properties, while 92 were levied in Cork City, 80 in Dublin City, and 77 in Mayo.
Nine local authorities imposed no levies in 2024.
These were Monaghan, Longford, Leitrim, Kerry, Galway County, Galway City, Fingal, Donegal, and Cavan.
