I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. We have spoken several times about this. He is passionate and anxious to see what has been agreed under the NPF translated into the local development plans, as am I and as is the Minister. The final revised NPF was approved by Government in April and passed by the Oireachtas last week. This concluded the revision process and allows the revised NPF to take effect in the planning system. The revised NPF provides the basis for the review and updating of regional spatial and economic strategies and local authority development plans to reflect matters such as updated housing figures, projected jobs growth and renewable energy capacity allocations, including through the zoning of land for residential, employment and a range of other purposes. The revised NPF facilitates planning for the delivery of in excess of 50,000 additional housing units per annum nationally, every year to 2040. Given the urgent need to ensure that the updated housing requirements can be incorporated into the planning system as quickly as possible to address housing need and demand, local authorities will be required to vary their current development plans, in line with a clear policy direction, which I intend to issue in the coming weeks. The provision of updated planned housing requirements on a local authority by local authority basis will also ensure that sufficient headroom is given to ensure competition and choice is available to those who wish to bring forward proposed housing developments. This is a key priority for us in government. We want to see what has been agreed under the NPF translated to a local basis as urgently as possible. I will inform local authorities of that in the coming weeks.
Sentiment score: 0.32
I thank the Deputy. I hear the point he is raising. There is a statutory process in terms of varying county development plans. It is a reserved function of members. We will be issuing clear direction on a local authority-by-local authority basis in terms of the expectations and quantum of zoned land that will be required. There will be headroom. We are working on finalising the methodology around that at present within the Department. It is imperative that we have sufficient quantum of zoned land within our areas to be able to bring forward housing development. The reason we are taking the approach we are taking is that we cannot afford to wait. There will be that direction. The actual varying of the development plan, as the Deputy knows, having been a councillor for a considerable period like myself, is a reserved function of members.
Sentiment score: 0.11
This has to be a priority for everyone. It is not just for us in here but for every local authority member and executive. We will be very clear in that. The Minister, Deputy Browne, and I are visiting local authorities. This is a top priority for us and we will ensure what has been agreed by those in this Chamber and in the Seanad is translated as quickly as possible into development plans so that proposals can be brought forward for housing purposes. We will continue to engage with local authorities on a consistent basis in relation to this. They know the expectation is that there will be a varying of development plans. As I said in my initial response, we are working on finalising what that will mean on a local authority-by-local authority basis to bring forward that land for development purposes. I thank the Deputy for raising the matter again.
Sentiment score: 0.22
I thank Deputy Gould for raising this important issue. I know he is passionate about it, as am I. We sat on the joint committee together previously. This is an issue that the Deputy raises consistently. Both the Minister, Deputy Browne, and I are committed to ensuring that it is addressed. We are reviewing the implementation of the Derelict Sites Act through engagement with local authorities. As the Deputy knows, the Act imposes a general duty on every owner and occupier of land to take all reasonable steps to ensure that land does not become or continue to be a derelict site as defined in the Act. The Act 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 derelict. Each local authority maintains a derelict sites register under section 8 of the Act for sites which they consider to be derelict. 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. This is an increase from the previous 3%, as the Deputy knows. Local authorities are required to submit an annual return to my Department, providing information on the operation of the operation of the Derelict Sites Act 1990 in their functional area. The derelict sites returns are collated in quarter 2 of the following year. A total of 1,913 sites were listed on local authority registers as of 31 December 2023. In conjunction with local authorities, my Department is engaged in the process of collating the 2024 figures. We have written to all local authorities, reminding them of their obligation to submit their year-end data for 2024. As yet, we do not have all that data collated.
Sentiment score: 0.23
As the Deputy knows, enforcement of the levy is a matter for local authorities. I see the carrot-and-stick approach having worked to pretty good effect in some local authorities. What I am talking about is the carrot of the likes of the repair and lease scheme, which has worked exceptionally well in my county of Waterford. About 50% of the national total of repair lease units have been delivered in Waterford, with one- and two-bed units in city centre and town centre areas not being used for social housing purposes. Of course, there is the stick of the derelict sites levy and, where required, compulsory purchase orders, CPOs. The collection of the levy is a byproduct, obviously, but I am sure what we both want is for those properties and lands to be brought back into productive use. They are a charge on that land or property, so there may be a time lag in collection. Where something is sold, it is a liability on that land and is collected by local authorities. We want to see collection happening but we also want to see these lands and properties activated.
Sentiment score: 0.17
I thank Deputies Gould and Burke. I was going to reference the CPO piece in my response. CPOs are a useful tool to be able to claim title, as Deputy Burke rightly pointed out. We have given significant resources to local authorities under call 3 of the URDF, specifically for a CPO programme. In the context of the local authorities I have visited so far, I have asked why they are not using the CPO process to the extent it should be used. Neither the Deputies nor I want to see properties lying vacant and idle. We want them brought back into productive use. The carrot-and-stick approach has worked for certain local authorities. Some authorities have been better than others in utilising the CPO process. It is important to say, however, that there is a charge and liability where a levy is applied. This is collected by local authorities. We want levies to be collected as early as possible. If a property is sold subsequently, the levy is a liability on it and will be collected at that point.
Sentiment score: 0.09
I propose to take Question Nos. 15 and 111 together. I thank the Deputy for his interest in this matter. Having served in local government for 11 years, I value the role of our councillors and of local democracy. This specific commitment is contained in the programme for Government. I have worked extensively on this since taking up this role a number of weeks ago. Both the Minister, Deputy Browne, and I have engaged with the Association of Irish Local Government, AILG, and the Local Authorities Members Association, LAMA, the representative bodies for local councillors, in this regard. As the Deputy rightly pointed out, the Local Government Reform Act 2014 dissolved 80 town councils, which represented just 14% of the population. The previous town council system also led to a duplication of administrative and electoral terms. Instead, the Act saw the introduction of 95 municipal districts, representing 100% of the population, in 25 of the 31 local authority areas at sub-county level, while area committees operate in Cork, Dublin and Galway, and in metropolitan areas within the Limerick and Waterford areas. We have not costed the re-establishment of town councils. We are finalising the terms of reference for the task force at present and hope to be able to bring them to Government shortly.
Sentiment score: 0.20
Briefly, I am working to finalise the terms of reference of the local democracy task force to bring them to Government as quickly as possible. I want to see this task force established as quickly as possible. We are working on the terms of reference and I hope to see that body of work as soon as possible to be able to present options to Government for consideration.
Sentiment score: 0.17