Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Derelict Sites Act 1990 (the Act) 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. 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. The enforcement and implementation of the provisions of the Act is a matter for individual local authorities.

My Department initiated a review of the Derelict Sites Act in November 2021 and invited local authorities to make initial submissions on potential improvements to the legislative provisions and the way they are applied. A focused working group of nominated staff members from a number of local authorities was subsequently established. The working group, which is chaired by my Department, comprises nominated officials from Carlow County Council, Clare County Council, Cork County Council, Dublin City Council, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Galway City Council, Limerick City & County Council, Mayo County Council and South Dublin County Council. The group met on three occasions during 2022 and discussions on the review are continuing to date. I will consider the recommendations contained in the report of the working group once it is received.

The scope for the engagement of additional staff resources in local authorities to assist in the more effective enforcement and implementation of the provisions of the Act is also being explored in my Department in the context of an ongoing review of the staff resourcing needs of local planning authorities generally.