Calls for tougher action on long-term derelict properties

Westmeath County Council are being urged to take stronger action against owners of long-term derelict properties across the county.

Councillors raised concerns about vacant and derelict properties in Athlone, Mullingar, Kinnegad, Castlepollard, Killucan and Rochfortbridge which they said had been unused for decades.

Cllr Denis Leonard questioned why relatively few derelict sites levies had been collected despite the council having strong collection rates in other areas it administers.

He said there were properties which had been sitting vacant for 20 or 30 years, while there was a shortage of homes and commercial premises.

Cllr Alfie Devine called for a full study of derelict properties across County Westmeath.

He believed many properties which were derelict were not on the derelict sites register and suggested that any property vacant for more than five years should be considered for inclusion. He also called for more derelict notices to be issued.

The council’s regeneration section is now coordinating work on the derelict sites register, involving staff across several departments and the municipal districts.

Housing Services director Jackie Finney said the work was being carried out in preparation for a national register.

She said responsibility for collecting derelict sites levies would subsequently move to Revenue.

Ms Finney said local authorities had historically experienced difficulties collecting the levies but expected Revenue’s involvement to improve collection.

Director of services Jean Ryan said a dedicated team are working on vacancy and dereliction and that the council were meeting every six weeks across several departments to progress the work.

Supported by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme