COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, February 12, 2024

QUESTION NO. 13

QUESTION: Councillor M. Johansson

To ask the Chief Executive how much has been collected from the Derelict Sites Levy in the county since 2020 and how much is currently outstanding?

REPLY:

Nil collected in 2023. Arrears from previous years being actively pursued. The total amount of these levies is €182,050.
During 2023, the Derelict Sites unit have been carrying out a review of all cases currently under investigation including those entered on the Register of Derelict Sites. This review has not been completed as yet and will result in comprehensive updates to the existing Register to include removal and addition of sites as appropriate, review and determination of up-to-date market valuations as necessary. Upon completion of the review, derelict sites levies will be charged where appropriate in accordance with the requirements of the Derelict Sites Act.
The Register of Derelict Sites is maintained by the Council pursuant to Section 8 (1) of the Derelict Sites Act 1990. Sites/properties that constitute derelict sites within the definition contained in Section 3 of the Derelict Sites Act, 1990 are entered on the Register of Derelict Sites. Sites that are under investigation are not routinely entered on the register until such time as investigations are completed and a determination made that the site is derelict.
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.
Section 23(1) of the Derelict Sites Act, 1990 states:
There shall be charged, levied and paid for each local financial year beginning with such year as may be prescribed, in respect of all urban land in relation to which a market value has been determined and stands entered on the register on the first day of January of that local financial year, a levy to be called the derelict sites levy.
"Urban land" is defined in Section 2 of the Derelict Sites Act, 1990 and means:
a derelict site in an urban area which has been entered on the register but does not include any occupied dwelling or land owned by a State authority or by the local authority in whose functional area the land is situate or land in relation to which:
(a) a compulsory purchase order (other than a vesting order under the Derelict Sites Act) has become operative, or
(b) a development objective exists for the purpose of reserving the land for roads or parking places or for any of the purposes of reserving or preserving land indicated in Part IV of the Third Schedule to the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963
In addition, section 23(1A) provides that:
The derelict sites levy shall not be payable in respect of any land in respect of which vacant site levy is payable in accordance with the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act, 2015