Efforts to tackle dereliction and vacancy in Mullingar ongoing

Efforts to tackle dereliction and vacancy in Mullingar are ongoing, and 20 properties are currently listed on the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad’s Derelict Sites Register, seven of which are in the town itself.

The update came in response to a question from Cllr Aoife Davitt at the district’s July meeting, where she sought a breakdown of derelict and vacant dwellings in the area. While the figures for derelict sites were available, the district said it is still awaiting data on the number of vacant properties and would provide that information when it becomes available.

Director of services Deirdre Reilly explained that the district is responsible for maintaining the Derelict Sites Register and that staff follow up annually with owners to collect levies. However, she added, “We’re always trying to move them out of dereliction. We have a certain amount of empathy for those owners.”

She said the issue of vacant properties falls under the remit of the council’s vacant homes officer, who operates through the housing section. A cross-functional team is now in place, working on derelict and vacant sites across the county, and includes representation from both municipal districts, the vacant homes officer, the town regeneration team, and the Town Centre First officer.

“That team is working on a strategy to tackle both dereliction and vacancy,” she said.

Cllr Davitt asked if things were moving in the right direction, and Ms Reilly confirmed they were, citing recent funding under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) for vacant and derelict properties in Mullingar and Athlone. She also referenced Croí Cónaithe, the government initiative supporting private investment in rural housing, as part of the broader strategy in rural areas.