Council owed €1.3m in respect of vacant site levy
€1.3 million is owed to South Dublin County Council in respect of vacant sites

Council owed €1.3m in respect of vacant site levy

A LOCAL politician has called for a “substantial change to Government policy when it comes to land hoarding”, following on from the revelation that approximately €1.3 million is owed to South Dublin County Council in respect of vacant sites.

The shortfall is from non-payment of the Vacant Site Levy, which is applied to lands that are left vacant by owners. There are currently 11 sites on the vacant site register in South Dublin County.

The levy was set at three per cent of the land value, up until 2019 when it was raised to its current level of seven per cent.

The figures were released by South Dublin County Council in response to a question by People Before Profit councillor for Palmerstown-Fonthill, Madeleine Johansson.

Cllr Johansson said: “The Vacant Site Levy was supposedly introduced to stop the hoarding of land by charging a fee each year that the site is vacant.

“It’s clear that the measure has not worked, and the fact that there is over a million euros outstanding is simply outrageous.

“We are in an ever-worsening housing crisis and at the same time we see how greedy landowners can hoard valuable housing land without any repercussions.

“There are too many opportunities for landowners to appeal the levies, and there needs to be substantial change to government policy when it comes to land hoarding.”

The local authority stated that “to date there appears to be c.€1.3m outstanding” in respect of the 11 vacant sites, but “this figure is subject to significant change, and amended demands may issue as appropriate”.

They added: “As with all valid debts, the Council will actively pursue payment of monies due.”

The council will be carrying out a review of vacant sites this year, and they noted that the Vacant Site Levy will be replaced in February 2024 by the Residential Zoned Land Tax.

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