Dereliction in Mayo: "We need real action, not just talk"

"The RTÉ Investigates report showing that most derelict sites around the country face little or no enforcement should be a wake-up call for Mayo."

This's according to Castlebar Independent Councillor Harry Barrett

He elaborated: "Across our county, people are looking at boarded-up buildings, abandoned houses and properties falling into ruin while, at the very same time, we've nearly 270 people here in Mayo desperately searching for somewhere to live. That situation cannot continue.

"We have laws in place already under the Derelict Sites Act 1990. The powers are there. What is needed now is a greater willingness to use them.

"Mayo County Council needs to step up its efforts and take a more aggressive approach to tackling dereliction.

"First, more properties need to be placed on the Derelict Sites Register. There are buildings across Mayo that clearly meet the definition of dereliction but have not yet been registered. If a property is derelict, it should be on the register, end of.

"Second, the derelict sites levy needs to be enforced more robustly.

"For too long, some property owners have been allowed to leave buildings lying idle and falling apart without facing meaningful consequences. The amount of money we collected last year was something like €37,000, that's very poor.

"Third, Mayo County Council must be prepared to use Compulsory Purchase Orders far more often.

"Where owners refuse to act and properties remain derelict year after year, the council should intervene, acquire those properties and bring them back into use. We only acquired 15 from 2021 to 2024 whereas Carlow acquired 26. That is unacceptable.

"At a time when we are facing a housing crisis, it makes no sense to have homes and buildings sitting empty and decaying in the heart of our towns. Every derelict property left untouched is a missed opportunity to house a family.

"RTÉ's investigation has highlighted a national problem, but it is one that must be solved locally. The time for reports and discussions has passed. What people want now is enforcement, action and results."