COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, July 10, 2023

QUESTION NO. 22

QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor

To ask the CEO to furnish details on the number of Derelict Sites he is pursuing in our County and will he make a statement?

REPLY:

In accordance with Section 3 of the Derelict Sites Act, l990 a derelict site is defined as:

Any land which detracts, or is likely to detract, to a material degree from the amenity, character or appearance of land in the neighbourhood of the land in question because of –

(a) the existence on the land in question of structures which are in a ruinous, derelict or dangerous condition, or

(b) the neglected, unsightly or objectionable condition of the land or any structures on the land in question or,

(c) the presence, deposit or collection on the land in question of any litter, rubbish, debris or waste, except where the presence, deposit or collection of such litter, rubbish, debris or waste results from the exercise of a right conferred by statute or by common law.

In order to eliminate/abate dereliction the Council has and continues to rely on the following provisions of the Derelict Sites Act:

A Section 11 Notice is served where in the opinion of a local authority it is necessary to do so, in order to prevent land, situate in their functional area from becoming or continuing to be a derelict site,

A notice under this section becomes effective after the expiration of fourteen days from the date of service of the notice, and 

A Section 8(2) Notice is served by the Local Authority on the owner and occupier (where they can be ascertained by reasonable enquiry) before making any entry on the register in relation to any land advising of their intention to make such entry. The Local Authority shall consider any representations any owner or occupier may make in writing within such period as may be specified in the notice, and may either make the entry or not as they think proper having regard to such representations.

A Section 8 (7) Notice is served by the Local Authority on the owner and occupier of a site where there is failure by the owner / occupier to respond to a Section 8 (2) Notice and where the owner / occupier has failed to take steps to render the site non derelict, advising that an entry has been made in the register.

A Section 15 Notice is served by the Local Authority on the owner and occupier of a site where it is intended to compulsorily acquire a derelict site.

A Section 23 Notice is served by the Local Authority on the owner and occupier of a site in respect of a levy / charge on the site where a market value has been determined (in accordance with Section 22) and which stands entered on the register on the first day of January of that financial year, until the dereliction is abated

There are currently 12 derelict sites entered on the Register of Derelict Sites maintained by the Council pursuant to Section 8 (1) of the Derelict Sites Act 1990.

Last July, the Council published notice of our intention to compulsorily acquire four properties in Tallaght under the Derelict Sites Act, 1990 which is awaiting determination by An Bord Pleanála. The Council have also recently acquired a derelict site in Clondalkin that will potentially be developed for housing purposes. The Derelict Sites Register remains under continuous review, including considering the use of the compulsory acquisition process where appropriate.