The Government is failing to tackle the scourge of dereliction. Every day, people pass homes, buildings and derelict sites in their communities. Houses are left to rot while land hoarders and speculators get off scot-free. I cannot tell you how angry and demoralised people seeking a home feel when they see all of this, not to mention the impact on our cities, towns and villages, with rows of derelict homes that are magnets for dumping, rats and antisocial behaviour - symbols of decay. Volunteers who keep neighbourhoods clean, community groups and sporting organisations without a base all look on in anger.
The housing Minister announced what he called a "war on dereliction" in October last year, and this was followed by Simon Harris announcing, and re-announcing, plans for a new derelict property tax. There were plenty of soundbites, press releases and big promises. Today, finally, he brings his tax proposal to the Cabinet. The questions people will be asking are whether this is the big step forward that is so badly required and if it will bring the necessary pace to tackle dereliction head on. The answer to both of those questions is "No", because the tax will not come into effect until 2027 and collection of the tax may not start until 2028. Today, we learn the tax will not apply to the entire State, but only to places with populations of 4,000 people or more. This phased approach means that thousands of derelict properties will not be captured by the tax in its initial phase.
If the Government is serious about dealing with the blight of dereliction, urgency is required. It has to put it up to those responsible for dereliction with legislation and serious financial penalties that will get homes and buildings back into use. Sitting back and pushing the derelict property tax out for another two years is not the mark of a Government intent on getting the job done. It is incredible that there is nothing in Simon Harris's proposal to ensure the collection of the more than €30 million already owed in derelict site levies. We told the Government that this money was not being collected and that local authorities did not have the capacity to collect it. We gave the Government the solutions, but instead, it gifted a multimillion euro amnesty to land hoarders. Ní leor leathiarracht maidir le foirgnimh tréigthe. Caithfidh an Rialtas gníomhú go práinneach agus go héifeachtúil chun dul i ngleic leis seo i gceart agus chun tithe agus foirgnimh a thabhairt ar ais in úsáid.
It is time to get serious on the issue of dereliction. We need a derelict property tax with real teeth. We need to penalise property hoarding and incentivise homes and buildings being reoccupied. Property hoarders who are not playing ball must be hit hard. The tax should be introduced now and ratcheted up - doubled, we believe - every year.
Of course, we have to ensure that every last cent owed by property hoarders is collected. Anyone who hoards property must pay the price and does not simply get to walk away. That is what urgency looks like. That is what ambition looks like. That and that alone is what will bring thousands of homes back into use.
