COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, February 09, 2026

QUESTION NO. 12

QUESTION: Councillor H. Farrell

To ask the Chief Executive for the full details on Derelict Sites Levies applied and monies collected in 2025 , per site and per Local Electoral Area, in South Dublin.

REPLY:

The Derelict Sites Act 1990 imposes a general duty on every owner and occupier of land to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the land does not become, or continue to be, a derelict site as defined in the legislation. The Act also imposes a duty on local authorities to take all reasonable steps, including the exercise of appropriate statutory powers, to ensure that any land within their functional area does not become, or continue to be, a derelict site.

SDCC maintains a Derelict Sites Register under section 8 of the Act for sites which they consider are derelict under the Act. Sites entered on the Derelict Sites Register are subject to an annual derelict sites levy of 7% of market value which will continue to apply until the site is rendered non-derelict.

Levies of €280,000 were applied to sites on the Derelict Sites Register in 2025 with almost half of this amount collected to date.  As per Section 24 of the Derelict Sites Act 1990, where derelict site levies remains unpaid, SDCC will place a charge on the relevant urban land, which will remain in place until payment of levies and interest due has been received. The Derelict Sites section has sought legal guidance and is currently liaising with the Law Department regarding the pursuit of uncollected levies. In addition to pursuing outstanding levies, SDCC will soon begin the process of applying levies to properties on the Derelict Sites Register for 2026.

As per Section 24 of the Derelict Sites Act 1990, where derelict site levies remains unpaid, SDCC will place a charge on the relevant urban land, which will remain in place until payment of levies and interest due has been received. In addition to pursuing outstanding levies, SDCC will soon begin the process of applying levies to properties on the Derelict Sites Register for 2026.

SDCC does not record this data by Local Electoral Area and therefore cannot provide a breakdown as requested. We are unable to provide site-specific information due to ongoing legal engagement in relation to individual cases.