REVEALED: Mayo towns set to be hit with new derelict property tax

Castlebar, Ballina and Westport are among 107 towns and cities across the State where a new Derelict Property Tax will be introduced later this year, with a second phase set to bring Claremorris, Ballinrobe and Ballyhaunis under the same regime.

Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris will update Cabinet on Tuesday on plans to introduce the tax as part of the Finance Bill.

The measure will initially apply to properties in urban areas with populations of 4,000 or more - taking in the three main Mayo towns.

A second phase will extend the tax to a further 64 towns with populations of 2,000 or more, bringing the total number of locations covered to 171 across the country.

The new tax will replace the existing derelict site levy, currently charged at 7% of a property's market value. The new rate will not be lower than that figure.

Crucially, administration of the tax will shift from local authorities to the Revenue Commissioners.

Mayo County Council and its counterparts across the country will retain responsibility for maintaining derelict property registers and identifying qualifying sites, but the power to levy and collect charges will pass to Revenue.

Mr. Harris said the primary objective of the measure is to support the revitalisation of communities by bringing long-term derelict buildings back into productive use.

He said success will not be measured by the amount of tax collected but by the number of properties restored and homes created.

Officials are continuing to develop the detailed design of the scheme, including exemptions, appeals mechanisms and ownership verification arrangements, ahead of legislation later this year.

Mayo’s latest residential derelict property register has 308 buildings across the county listed.