More than €20 million in levies remains uncollected

Louth Labour TD, Ged Nash says the Revenue Commissioner must be given the power to collect the Derelict Sites Levy charged against errant property owners in Louth and elsewhere.  

Deputy Nash said: “Dereliction has blighted our town and towns up and down the country and for years, I’ve been arguing in the Dail for some time now that the job of collecting the Derelict Sites Levy, charge all too often avoided by the owners of derelict properties - should be taken from the local authorities and given to Revenue.

“More than €20 million in levies remains uncollected and this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the cancer of abandoned, dilapidated and dangerous buildings that blight our urban centres.”

He explained: “Labour has been calling on Government to empower the Revenue Commissioners to collect the monies associated with the Derelict Sites Levy to take serious action against property owners who are being let ride roughshod over Ireland’s housing, vacancy and dereliction crisis.

“We know that the Derelict Sites Levy is rarely if ever fully collected, and owners often ignore collection notices or put local authorities through expensive legal hoops.

“Here’s the run for derelict property owners. If a debt is not paid to Revenue and you are not tax compliant, you cannot run your businesses. A demand with a harp on it is the only language they understand.”

Deputy Nash said: “I recently posed a Parliamentary Question on this issue and while the government has promised reform under the Derelict Sites Act, there is no specific commitment to transfer responsibility for the collection of these fees to the Revenue Commissioners. This can be easily done and it is further proof that FF and FG are not serious about dereliction and put the rights of property owners – however anti-social – above the public interest”

“I was told by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, that the Vacant Sites Levy is being phased out and replaced by the Residential Zoned Land Tax which will come into effect this year and be collected by the Revenue Commissioners. I see no logical reason why the Derelict Sites Levy cannot be treated in the same way.”

The Louth Labour TD added “The government has a lot to do if dereliction is to be seriously tackled in our town and across the country.

“In the interest of the public good, it’s time to take on those who are hoarding vacant and derelict sites and put in place a comprehensive plan to tackle dereliction, collect money, to make it difficult for those who hold all the wealth, and to ensure that sites are redeveloped or put up for sale to someone who wants to put them back into use.

“I have studied the international response to dereliction. Compulsory Sales Orders are part of Scottish law and we should follow suit. Compulsory Purchase Orders aren’t always the answer.

“When it comes to dereliction, many owners of these sites will put up hoardings or screenings as a fig leaf when first challenged, to stop the building being visible from the public realm. Bizarrely, this can make them compliant with the Act. There is no incentive – either carrot or stick – to turn these sites into homes.”

He concluded: “There’s no shortage of policy statements and press releases form the Government whether it’s refurbishment grants or the Town Centre first policy. But without giving councils the powers and resources they need, backed by agencies like Revenue who have teeth and are feared, nothing will change. We need a comprehensive plan to tackle dereliction and we will not get it from this government.”