Cork County Council’s approach to vacancy and derelict sites ‘not working’, says councillor

Cork County Council has requested just 10 derelict site levies this year and, to date, has collected just one - despite there being more than 100 properties on the register.

No levies were collected in 2023. The current derelict sites register, seen by The Echo, comprises 109 properties across the county — 22 of which were added to the register 10 or more years ago, including three added in 2002.

Of these, 23 properties are awaiting market valuation. The combined market value of those that have been assessed comes in at €10,605,000.

Dismal

Anti-dereliction campaigners called the latest figures “dismal” and “inexcusable”.

A council spokesperson said that, after “a comprehensive review” of the Derelict Sites Register in December, 2023, 10 confirmed owners of derelict sites were issued with Section 22 notices notifying them of the council’s determination of the current market value of their site.

“This facilitates the issue of levy demands to the value of €87,500, subject to appeal against this determination to the Valuations Tribunal, to issue in 2024. To date, the levy has been paid in full in respect of one of these properties.”

The spokesperson explained reasons why a levy demand might not be issued.

These include that sites are in the process of being compulsorily acquired, owners of derelict sites are deceased, ownership cannot be established, or where there are legal proceedings under way.

In 2023, Cork County Council compulsorily acquired three derelict sites, and is currently in the process of vesting three more, with compulsory acquisition proceedings having been commenced on a further five.

“It is anticipated that an additional five properties will be recommended for compulsory acquisition under the Derelict Sites Act by year end 2024,” the spokesperson said, adding their Town Regeneration Office has surveyed 2,810 properties countywide to date and is in the process of carrying out further assessments on those that are vacant and meeting the legal definition of a derelict site.

Basic failings

Social Democrats councillor and general election candidate for Cork East, Liam Quaide, said: “It’s very clear from these figures that the council’s approach to vacancy and dereliction is, overall, not working.

“Not registering so many properties as derelict in the first place and then not collecting levies for those that are points to basic failings in the system. We need to consider the amount of resources Cork County Council is investing in addressing vacancy and dereliction, and to potentially increase that significantly.”

Anti-dereliction campaigners Frank O’Connor and Jude Sherry told The Echo: “These results are dismal and inexcusable. The numbers registered do not come close to reflecting the scale of the dereliction problem, whilst the collection rates are absolutely abysmal.

Calling the excuses given “not plausible”, they said that the figures “make a very strong argument for moving the levy collection from councils to Revenue”.

They added: “Why should everyone in Co Cork have to suffer the scourge of dereliction just because the council refuse to properly enforce a law that’s been in place for 34 years? Leaving a small minority of neglectful property owners to get away scot-free with letting their properties rot onto the street. Just look at the huge disruptions caused from collapsing buildings in Mitchelstown and Charleville.

“Yet actually responsible property owners are rewarded with rising local property tax bills — a tax owners of dereliction don’t have to pay.”