Less than 10% of €8.6m derelict-site fines issued last year was collected
Local authorities imposed levies of almost €8.6m on the owners of 778 derelict sites across the country last year, but succeeded in collecting less than 10% of this amount, new figures have revealed.
A total of €26.3m 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 7%, and unpaid fines on this accrue interest at a rate of 1.25% per month.
Almost €2.2m was collected by local authorities last year – including €819,556 of the total levies issued in 2024.
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% 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, only two were issued in Wicklow, and there were 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 Co. Galway (three).
A total of €7.9m was owed to Dublin City Council in respect of levies imposed under the Derelict Sites Act 1990, and another €5.9m 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 Co. 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 Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, 15 were registered in Fingal, and 23 were located in South Dublin.
There were also 128 derelict sites registered in the city.
Last year alone, Limerick City and County Council imposed levies on 192 derelict properties, while there were 92 levied in Cork city, 80 in Dublin city, and 77 in Mayo.
A total of 2,869 notices or demands have been issued by local authorities in respect of derelict properties under the relevant legislation.
Nine local authorities imposed no levies in 2024.
These were Monaghan, Longford, Leitrim, Kerry, Galway County, Galway City, Fingal, Donegal and Cavan.
The councils charge interest on unpaid levies and can pursue the debt through the courts, enabling them to obtain a charge on the property so they can recoup the fines when a site is eventually sold.
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