A national body representing county and city councillors has expressed disappointment at comments by Tánaiste Simon Harris that local authorities have not done enough to tackle dereliction.
Mr Harris updated the Cabinet in his role as Minister for Finance on plans to introduce a new Derelict Property Tax in 107 cities and towns across the State.
Speaking on Sunday, the Fine Gael leader said he was angry and frustrated that local authorities had "not done enough" to tackle abandoned buildings by chasing derelict site levies and said he would take some powers away from them.
However, in a statement to RTÉ News, the Association of Irish Local Government took exception to some of Mr Harris' remarks.
"The association is disappointed by comments suggesting that local authorities have 'badly failed' in administering the Derelict Sites Levy," the statement said.
Simon Harris updated the Cabinet on plans to introduce a new Derelict Property Tax
"While there is broad agreement across the local government sector that the current system requires significant reform, it is important that the considerable work undertaken by local authorities to tackle vacancy and dereliction over many years is recognised."
Responding to the Association of Local Government's statement on his way into Cabinet, Mr Harris said: "It was RTÉ who was very critical of this issue. It was very good journalism by RTÉ.
"The RTÉ Investigates that I watched very closely and was aghast at the responses from some local authorities. Aghast."
The Tánaiste was referring to an RTÉ Investigates report published earlier this month which revealed that State bodies appear repeatedly on local authority derelict site registers.
"This is a small country. Some local authorities are doing a very good job at tackling dereliction. And some are appalling at it. Appalling. And it's my job as a Government leader to make sure that the policies of the Government and the wishes of the people are enforced without fear nor favour," the Tánaiste said.
Mr Harris said he accepted Government has responsibility for tackling dereliction at a national level, but added how every chain of Government needs to work together, including local authorities.
"I have a duty to point out to people, right across the system, an inconsistent approach and I'm not going to tolerate an à la carte approach to Government policy on dereliction. I'm going to call it out every time", he added.
Mr Harris told his Cabinet colleagues that 11 local authorities failed to collect any derelict site levy income in 2024.
Government using 'stick' to address derelict sites
Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke said the Government is now using the "stick" to address the number of derelict sites in the country after previously using a "carrot" of grants to try and renovate the properties.
Speaking at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Minister Burke said that while as a former minister for local government he understands councillors' concerns, he believes the Government is taking the steps needed.
Minister Burke said "Government has come forward with a carrot" in recent years including grant supports and support schemes such as making €100,000 available to return a derelict property back into use and €135,000 for over-the-shop accommodation.
However, he said there is now a need "to have the stick approach" to make sure there is an acceleration in the number of derelict sites being re-developed for habitation, saying this approach is needed so people can "realise their ambition of home ownership".
Figures collated by the Revenue Commissioner and the Central Statistics Office show how local authorities in Donegal, Fingal, Galway City, Galway County, Leitrim, Longford, Monaghan, Tipperary, Westmeath and Wicklow collected no derelict site levy income at all during 2024.
Recent figures show that more than €26 million in derelict site levies had been imposed but remained uncollected at the end of 2024.
However, the association insisted local authorities have been at the forefront of addressing vacancy and dereliction in towns, villages and cities throughout Ireland.
Read more: How the State ends up fining itself over derelict sites
RTÉ Investigates: Most derelict sites in Ireland face no enforcement
"The Department of Housing's own vacancy and dereliction programmes demonstrate that substantial progress has been made in recent years through the active involvement of local authorities in identifying, engaging with and supporting property owners to return properties to use", it said.
"The challenge facing local authorities has never been a lack of commitment. Rather, it has been the limitations of the legislative framework established under the Derelict Sites Act 1990.
"For many years local authorities have highlighted practical difficulties associated with the current system. These include challenges in identifying and tracing property ownership, particularly where ownership records are incomplete,…
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