139. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to collect the outstanding €26 million in derelict sites levies prior to the introduction of the derelict sites charge. [5325/26]

Sentiment score: 0.20

Will the Minister provide the House with an update on his plans to collect the outstanding €26 million in derelict site levies before the derelict sites charge comes in? I believe he is providing an amnesty to speculators and land hoarders while buildings are rotting in every town, city and village in the State.

Sentiment score: 0.31

That is unbelievable because the Minister told me he would not be collecting the derelict sites levy. I have come in here and asked him a straight question on whether he will ensure its collection. We now know local authorities have not been collecting it. Number one, they do not have the staff and resources.

Sentiment score: 0.21

They do not. I have spoken to them. Their officials were in front of the housing committee even before Deputy Browne was the Minister and told us they do not have the staff or resources. What the Minister is saying here now is different. Some €26 million is owed. The amount went up by €6 million in 2025 and it will go up by at least the same amount again in 2026. That means €32 million regarding houses in addition to all the others that are not on the derelict sites register. The Minister is letting those concerned get away with daylight robbery. He is the Minister for housing. Is he going to give a commitment on the floor of the Dáil today that the €26 million and any other outstanding levies will be collected? Deputy Browne is the boss and the Minister. Will he give the commitment? If not, he is only looking after the lads in the Galway tent again.

Sentiment score: 0.09

Last night I introduced a Bill to this Chamber that would have made it the responsibility of local authorities to ensure that a report would be compiled and that the Minister would answer it to ensure derelict sites levies would be collected. The Government voted it down. It was a solution, supported by the Opposition, that the Minister blocked, so he should not come in here and blame the local authorities. He is the Minister and he voted down legislation last night. Just to let the Minister know, the Land Development Agency, LDA, is seeking to be exempt from the derelict sites levy. I thank RTÉ for doing work on this. Tens of thousands of euro are owed and those concerned do not want to pay it, while buildings are rotting in Dublin and all over the rest of the State. Mayo County Council wants to take derelict site land hoarders and speculators to court. Will the Minister give it the funding to do so? Could he give a yes-no answer? Charlie Haughey introduced the derelict sites legislation in 1990, 36 years ago. The situation is worse now than ever. The Government is at fault. Deputy Browne is blaming local authorities. He is the Minister for housing - not me, Deputy Ó Broin or anyone else - so he should not pass the buck. Addressing this is his job.

Sentiment score: -0.01

In two years’ time.

Sentiment score: 0.00

No, but it is the Minister’s job to make sure they do their job.

Sentiment score: 0.33

It is the Minister’s job to make sure they do their job.

Sentiment score: 0.32