Cork County Council collects just €10,000 out of a possible €320,000 in dereliction charges

One councillor said: “We’ve used a lot of the carrot, now we need to use the stick.”

Three derelict buildings, one of which was the former fire station, in Fermoy, Co. Cork. Photo: Denis Minihane

Cork County Council officials have been told “to stop using the carrot and get out the stick” after it emerged they managed to collect less than €10,000 levied against the owners of derelict properties, which have a combined estimated value of €20m.

Under national legislation, local authorities are entitled to collect an annual 7% levy per annum on the market value of such sites. The penalties are designed to encourage owners to put their properties back into use. However, the council has admitted it has managed to collect just €9,750 in levies.