€1.1 million in derelict sites levies yet to be collected by Tipperary County Council
Despite issuing more than €1.1 million in derelict sites levies to property owners, Tipperary County Council has yet to collect any money.
Fine Gael councillor Tom Acheson asked representatives from Tipperary County Council’s planning section if the council had collected any money so far from building owners whose properties are on the derelict sites register.
The local authority currently has 143 properties on the derelict sites register, spread all across the county.
Speaking at the July meeting of the Clonmel Borough District, Cllr Acheson asked what the council’s plan was.
“Have we been successful in collecting any levies? And what’s our plan going forward, we’re adding derelict buildings to the list, but are there buildings that we would consider compulsory purchasing?” he asked.
“There are some properties that are critical, and others maybe less critical, but they all need to be revamped, but when do we run out of patience? Do we have the funds to CPO some of them and flip them over to developers or individuals who would engage with us?” the Fine Gael councillor questioned.
In response, town regeneration officer Shane Grogan said that the council is planning on ramping up the compulsory purchase order (CPO) process to reduce the number of vacant and derelict properties across the county.
“We have 40 properties on the derelict sites register in Clonmel town, we are ramping up the activity around compulsory purchase orders,” Mr Grogan said.
Mr Grogan pointed to the fact that Tipperary County Council last week served notice of their plans to CPO 24 derelict houses in the Glen Court estate in Emly, and added that several buildings in Clonmel were on their list of targets.
“Before the end of quarter three of this year, you will see properties in the Clonmel area where CPOs will be commenced against them,” he added.
All of the properties on the derelict sites list had been levied now, Mr Grogan explained, with the total amount owed to the council coming to more than €1.1million.
Property owners have two months after getting a letter from the council to pay the levy.
“In excess of €1.1million in demands has been sent out, and we have yet to receive any funds in, but I am making property owners aware that we will be following up with people.
“There will be a follow-up in September for people who have not paid, and we will start to pick certain properties where we will engage in court proceedings for people who have not paid,” he said.
The council are also in the process of running a vacant homes roadshow, councillors were told, with members of the planning team going out and about to host events in each district for people who have derelict buildings.
The event will tell property owners about the schemes and grants that are available to take properties out of dereliction, while planners will be on hand to talk about options for individual buildings.
The next one of these events will be held in the Talbot Hotel in Clonmel on July 29, from 5pm to 7pm.