Councillors urge Government to give proceeds from derelict properties tax to local authorities

The new tax will initially apply to properties in urban areas with populations of 4,000 or more before being rolled out to towns with populations of 2,000 or more

Protesters outside a derelict building on North Main Street in Cork City during an anti-dereliction demonstration last year. Picture: Chani Anderson

The Government has been urged to ensure any funds collected through a tax on derelict properties should go back to the local authorities, instead of central funds.

The call was made ahead of Tánaiste, Simon Harris, briefing the Cabinet on Tuesday about plans to introduce the new tax in the upcoming Finance Bill. He made the announcement about the new tax on Sunday.