Mayo County Council is slammed for failing to collect fines

Mayo County Council’s record when it comes to enforcing fines levied on the owners of derelict properties is among the worst in the country.

In 2023, the council imposed charges on 126 sites totalling €709,000. However, the local authority only collected a mere €14,000, which equates to just 2% of the overall total.

The figures were highlighted by Fine Gael councillor Alma Gallagher at a recent meeting of the council’s Housing Strategic Policy Committee (SPC).

“We are the second lowest local authority in the country,” said Cllr Gallagher. “I know we are a well-run, well-functioning local authority in a lot of ways and I know often it can come down to the resources that are available to us,” she stated.

Her view was shared by Cllr Michael Kilcoyne.

“We didn’t even collect the money that was there. Cllr Gallagher is 100% right."

Cllr Gallagher questioned whether the task should be handed over to the Revenue Commissioners given the poor return.

“Let them chase and invest and take the responsibility away from the local authorities,” she said, adding that the council needs to start “aggressively” claiming back the money it is owed.

The Ballyhaunis-based councillor said it is not just the bigger towns that are encountering major issues when it comes to vacant and emergency accommodation. She said smaller towns like Ballyhaunis face many of the same challenges and issues.

Cllr Gallagher also commented that bringing a derelict building back to life does not always have to mean going down the residential route.

“Everyone believes in over-the-shop living but there needs to be some incentive there that helps to keep the ground floor for commercial development. That needs to be built into the Town Centre First initiative.” 

She called for a better balance between commercial and residential or else "it will end up being the case that we have no businesses left in these towns".