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Alan Dillon TD

01 Feb Mayo TD welcomes further fund for Councils to purchase derelict sites

Posted at 16:21h in Housing by
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A new fund will allow Mayo County Council to buy further vacant derelict buildings in towns and villages across the county to make them available for housing, said Deputy Alan Dillon.  

 

Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien published a new Vacant Homes Action Plan and launched the new €150 million fund to help ongoing work to tackle vacancy and dereliction.  

 

“According to figures given by Mayo County Council to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage last week, Council CEO Kevin Kelly said last year the Derelict Sites and the Derelict Sites Register extended to 284 sites across Mayo,” said Deputy Dillon.  

 

The Mayo Fine Gael TD added: “A dedicated officer was appointed to pursue greater activity in relation to derelict sites with the council continuing to pursue dereliction by way of engagement with owners and occupiers, the issuing of statutory notices and placement of sites on the register. Last year, seven derelict sites were removed from the process before they were entered on the Derelict Sites Register and four properties were advanced through a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO).” 

Deputy Dillon outlined the €150 million URDF fund will request proposals from local authorities for funding to acquire a vacant or derelict property or site and associated works that may be required to de-risk or improve the site so that it is more attractive for re-use or sale.  

 

“The Department will also issue fresh instructions to local authorities relating to COP’s with a focus on the purchase of derelict properties. 

 

‘The fund will then be replenished from the proceeds received from the sale or use of a site, thereby allowing a local authority establish a rolling programme to tackle long-term vacancy and dereliction without borrowing or the associated financial risk,” said Deputy Dillon.  

 

“With this fund, Mayo County Council can extend the number of properties which are purchased through CPO from four last year. It will also go a long way in tackling dereliction which is obvious to see in towns and villages across our county,” concluded Deputy Dillon.