Councillors urge more action on dereliction in Mayo

A key committee of Mayo Co Council wants the Department of Housing to bring in compulsory sales order legislation to force owners of vacant and derelict sites to either sell or revitalise the properties.

The matter was discussed at the council's Housing Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) last week after it was originally proposed by Cllr Jarlath Munnelly at a full council meeting. The council's Director of Services Tom Gilligan said a compulsory sales order would force the owner to put a property for sale. He said the legislation had been "very effective" in Scotland and other parts of the United Kingdom.

"We would identify properties such as those that are long-term vacant and derelict and have the owner put the property for sale at a competitive auction. This allows the market to determine the most suitable use for a purchaser and allows other people to bid, as opposed to a compulsory purchase order, where it ultimately comes back to council use.”

He added: “It is a pity we have to go down this route as I still don’t understand why property owners sitting on vacant properties in a time of crisis are not placing these on the market and I think they really have to take responsibility as well. Once the legislation comes out, they would have to bring it to market in a certain amount of time. This forces them to take action, they don’t have any choice and it complements the compulsory purchase order measures.” 

SPC Cathaoirleach Cllr Peter Flynn pointed out that Mayo County Council was itself “the biggest offender in regard to owning derelict properties”, telling the Housing Director: “We talk about people being wrong but if I was the owner of a derelict property, the first place I would point at is you. But with that said, anything to move the housing situation forward has to be welcomed.”

Cllr Harry Barrett said he saw some merits in the proposal but it would take time to implement. 

"I am more interested in the law that stands at the moment and implementing that. Only €37,000 was collected on derelict levies last year and we have to at least quadruple that. It would be far more effective if we ramped up our initiatives and remind people of their responsibility. There's no urgency coming from these delinquent owners sitting on these properties for 20 years while young couples struggle. I look at the Main Street in Castlebar and am not happy, and then there are 37 vacant units on the Ballinrobe Road. It's a disgrace.” 

Members endorsed Cllr Munnelly's proposal and agreed to forward it to the Department.

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.