COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE

Monday, October 21, 2019

MOTION NO. 8

MOTION: Councillor C. King

That this Committee calls on the CEO to CPO the four empty and derelict homes at St Maelruains Park adjoining Mountain Park that have remained vacant and unkempt for many years now with rusty steel sheeting covering the doors and windows bringing the aesthetics of the area down, but more importantly in a time of enormous housing need these four homes lie idle rotting away while families await homes for up to 12 years with many living in terrible conditions in emergency accommodation throughout the area and across the City.

REPORT:

In accordance with the National Vacant Housing Re-use Strategy 2018- 2021, each Local Authority has a Vacant Homes Officer that acts as central advisory point for property owners in terms of providing advice, assistance and information on these schemes which are available to bring properties back to use. There are several initiatives in place with the aim of encouraging and enabling privately owned vacant homes to be brought back into use whether to the social housing or private rented market these include:

In addition the Housing Agency is engaging with banks, financial institutions and investors to purchase suitable units for social housing use.

The aim in the first instance would be to encourage property owners to engage with the Council and find solutions for the vacant home units without having to resort to the Compulsory Purchase process. However Local Authorities do have a range of legislative powers available to deal with under- utilised and derelict properties for example through the Compulsory Purchase Powers and Derelict Sites Legislation.

The Council's Enforcement and Licencing Section monitors these properties on a regular basis under the provisions of the Derelict Sites Act, 1990 and they are scheduled for re-inspection. The properties are in receivership and the receivers have indicated that they are not in position to sell at this time.