Council acquired five derelict sites through CPO in Mayo in last two years

MAYO County Council has acquired five derelict sites through Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) in the last two years.

A more proactive approach is needed, says Deputy Michael Ring, if site dereliction is going to be addressed

Deputy Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, about the number of derelict sites Mayo County Council has taken into its possession in the last two years in a Parliamentary Question.

Local authorities are empowered under a number of statutes to acquire land, by agreement or compulsorily, for the purposes of performing any of its functions. The number of derelict sites acquired within their functional area under the provisions of the Derelict Sites Act 1990 (the Act) are submitted to the department as part of the annual return on the operation of the Act.

The number of sites specifically acquired under the Act by Mayo County Council by agreement for the two years was nil. In comparison, the number of sites specifically acquired by way of CPO was four in 2022 and only one in 2023.

“This is very unsatisfactory by Mayo County Council,” said Deputy Ring. “There are numerous derelict sites. It is difficult to understand why more of those sites have not been acquired, either by way of Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) or by agreement. For those two years, no sites at all were acquired by agreement.”

In the minister’s response he indicated that a new CPO Activation Programme was launched by his department in April 2023. The programme supports a proactive and systematic approach by local authorities to the activation of vacant properties. It also includes guidance for local authorities to actively use their legislative powers to acquire vacant and derelict properties, where engagement with owners has been unsuccessful.

Support and guidance on implementation of the programme is being provided to local authorities by the Vacant Homes Unit in the department and by the Property Optimisation Unit in the Housing Agency.

“A much more proactive approach is needed by Mayo County Council if site dereliction in this county is going to be addressed,” commented Deputy Ring.