Compulsory Purchase Orders

Tuesday, 7 October 2025

Questions (294, 295, 296)

Thomas Gould

Question:

294. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the targets for the CPO activation programme in 2024; and the numbers achieved by local authority, in tabular form. [53316/25]

View answer

Thomas Gould

Question:

295. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the targets for the CPO activation programme in 2025, by local authority, in tabular form. [53317/25]

View answer

Thomas Gould

Question:

296. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of buildings which are the subject of compulsory purchase orders under the CPO activation programme in 2023, by local authority, in tabular form. [53319/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I propose to take Questions Nos. 294 to 296, inclusive, together.

Addressing vacancy and dereliction is a key priority for Government.

The Vacant Homes Action Plan, published in January 2023, set out the various actions being pursued to return vacant properties back into use as homes. In March, I published the 2025 Progress Report which shows the significant progress that is being made and it is available on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/df86c-vacant-homes-action-plan-2023-2026

The CPO Activation Programme was launched by my Department in April 2023. The Programme encourages a proactive and systematic approach by local authorities to address vacancy and dereliction. As part of the Programme, guidance and supports are provided for local authorities to actively use their legislative powers under the Housing Act and the Derelict Sites Act to compulsorily acquire vacant and derelict properties, where engagement with owners has been unsuccessful.

Implementation of the Programme requires cross team co-operation and co-ordination in each local authority to support a focused approach to addressing vacancy and dereliction. This is occurring in local authorities with reorganisation of staff resources and establishment of other structures to support co-ordination.

The data sought on the CPO Activation Programme is being verified and finalised and will be published in the coming weeks.

My Department, along with the Property Optimisation Unit in the Housing Agency, will continue to support local authorities in taking a proactive and systematic approach to identifying vacant and derelict properties and engaging with owners to bring those properties back into use, including through the use of their compulsory purchase powers.

Question No. 295 answered with Question No. 294.

Question No. 296 answered with Question No. 294.