Almost €2.5m owed in derelict site levies in Westmeath

Almost €2.5m is owed in derelict sites levies in Westmeath, almost ten per cent of the national total of outstanding levies.

That’s according to figures provided to Sinn Féin

The party’s Longford-Westmeath TD Sorca Clarke slammed what she said was the government’s total failure to tackle dereliction.

She was commenting as Sinn Féin TD Thomas Gould moved the Derelict Sites (Amendment) Bill 2022 to Second Stage in the Dáil. The Bill aims to force accountability for the collection of the Derelict Sites Levy and end the passing of the buck between government and local authorities.

The government has announced that Revenue will begin collection of the levy but not before 2027, and with no backdated collection. This has essentially introduced a two-year amnesty on the Derelict Sites Levy, Clarke said.

“There was a total of €2,455,736 in Derelict Sites Levies owed to Westmeath County Council as of 31 December 2024 (the most recent figures available) with €26 million owed across the state.

“That money could be used to bring buildings back into use, to deliver new homes and invest in local authorities. Full collection would allow additional collection. It is a no-brainer but instead, this government intends to introduce an amnesty. For two years, speculators will be allowed to leave these homes to rot while local authorities are given no additional funding to collect the levies.

“For 36 years, the Derelict Sites Levy has been in place. In that time, local authorities have repeatedly called for more resourcing and more support to allow them to collect this. Instead, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have done what they do best. They’ve protected their buddies - the speculators and large developers who leave homes and buildings to rot in the heart of our communities.

“People are taken to court for failing to pay their TV licence or a parking fine. They are penalised and forced to pay these penalties. How can speculators leave homes and buildings to rot with no punishment?

“There are a shocking 76 derelict sites across Westmeath. That is scandalous.”

The figures show that no levies were received in Westmeath during 2024.

In Roscommon, there were 33 sites on the register at the end of 2024. €150,265 of levies was due in that county, with €23,625 paid during the year.