Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 June 2026
159. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on vacant and derelict housing in Galway city and county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48288/26]
View answer172. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress that has been made in bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use in County Galway; whether additional supports are being considered to assist local authorities and homeowners in returning these properties to the housing stock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48305/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 159 and 172 together.
Working to end dereliction and vacancy is a key priority in the Government's new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities. The Plan aims to ensure that the activities and resources used to address vacancy and dereliction are co-ordinated and effective and that legislative powers are used proactively to work to bring dereliction and vacancy to an end.
The Vacant Homes Action Plan outlines the range of initiatives and funding mechanisms that have been introduced in recent years and these measures are successfully reducing the levels of vacancy and dereliction across the country, including Galway city and county.
One of the key measures in the Action Plan is the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, introduced in July 2022. The grant provides up to €70,000 for the refurbishment of vacant and derelict properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent.
In April, I launched a new enhanced support package of up to €140,000 to bring vacant ‘above shop’ space in our cities, towns and villages into use as homes, including an Expert Advice Grant.
The CPO Activation Programme was launched in 2023. This requires local authorities to take a proactive, systematic approach to identifying and activating vacant and derelict properties. It includes use of their compulsory purchase powers under the Derelict Sites Act 1990 and the Housing Act 1966, when engagement with the owners of these properties is not successful in bringing them back into use.
Under Call 3 of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), Government established a €150 million revolving fund for local authorities to acquire vacant or derelict properties, using their compulsory purchase powers where necessary.
The Town Centre First policy, for which I and the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht hold joint responsibility, is a major cross-government policy. It aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres. It does so by setting out a framework to facilitate and resource regeneration of our towns and villages to ensure they are vibrant, viable, visible and happy places to live, work, invest in and visit. Town Centre First complements other national policies, including our rural future, the national housing strategy and the national planning framework.
Under the Derelict sites Act 1990, local authorities have been provided with a range of powers and measures to deal with the issue of derelict properties. Local authority powers include requiring owners or occupiers to take appropriate measures on derelict sites, acquiring derelict sites by agreement, or compulsorily, and applying a derelict sites levy on derelict sites.
A new Derelict Property Tax was announced in Budget 2026 and it is intended to introduce legislation providing for the tax in 2026. This tax will, when it comes into effect, replace the Derelict Sites Levy and will be collected by the Revenue Commissioners. Updating and maintaining their Derelict Sites/Property Registers will continue to remain the responsibility of local authorities, and Derelict Sites levies that remain outstanding when the new tax is introduced will remain as charges on the land and will be the responsibility of each local authority to collect.
I firmly believe the commitment Government has made to addressing vacancy and dereliction and the actions under Delivering Homes, Building Communities will play a vital role in bringing properties back into use and delivering homes across the country, including Galway city and county.
