Department of Housing to launch map of derelict properties

Individuals will be able to examine the map, with one government source saying it will place further pressure on councils to update their local dereliction registers. File picture: Denis Minihane.

The Department of Housing is to launch a website mapping registered derelict properties across local authority areas, local government minister John Cummins has said.

He said some councils are performing “better than others” in registering derelict properties on sites on their individual registers.

“We will have an interface very shortly from the department, which will show every derelict property on a website for the public to be able to see,” Mr Cummins said.

“That will obviously show significant gaps where some local authorities have not been doing the work that they’re statutorily obliged to do.” 

The project will map out each individual derelict property register, across all 31 local authorities.

Individuals will be able to examine the map, with one government source saying it will place further pressure on councils to update their local dereliction registers.

It is expected to be made available to the public in the coming months.

The proposal comes as the Government is due to introduce a derelict property tax in the years ahead. A meeting was held recently on the matter between Mr Cummins, housing minister James Browne, and finance minister Simon Harris.

The tax will replace the derelict sites levy and will be collected by Revenue rather than individual local authorities. There has been repeated criticism of local authorities for failing to collect the levy.

“The message is very clear — we have significant Government schemes in place to tackle this issue. If people that own these properties aren’t using those schemes, they are going to be hit with a significant derelict property tax,” said Mr Cummins.

The tax itself will be charged at a rate of 7% on the market value of the derelict property.

There is a significant lead-in time before the tax comes into effect, however, with legislation to be prepared this year.

It will come into effect in 2027.