'War' declared on Mayo's 'anti-social' dereliction problem

Minister for Housing James Browne has declared war on dereliction in Mayo, describing it as 'anti-social behaviour'.

Mayo has the highest levels of dereliction in the country, with almost 15% of Ireland’s derelict homes located in this county.

According to Geodirectory reports, that amounts to 3,020 buildings laying idle.

Less than 300 of those have been identified on Mayo County Council’s derelict sites register.

Mayo County Council has been criticised by local councillors and TDs over its low rate of compulsory purchase orders, averaging just two CPOs a year from 2015 to 2024.

Minister Browne said this must change, slamming delinquent property owners for allowing their properties to fall into disrepair, labelling it as rent-seeking, the act of growing one's existing wealth by manipulating public policy or economic conditions without creating new wealth.

“I am declaring a war on dereliction.

“If you can’t afford to maintain your property you have to sell it to somebody who wants it.

“There’s no property or site in this country that somebody else doesn’t want.”

He stated that he is keen to “punish people who hold on to derelict sites.”

He said local authorities must identify derelict sites and enforce charges on owners while also pledging new measures to help councils to take on dereliction.

“I’ll be writing out to every local authority again to remind them. Some are excellent in this area, some not so.”

It’s lost revenue as well. He added that councils can use funds collected from the derelict sites levy for other projects.

Encouraging Mayo County Council to be more aggressive, he added: “The CPO process is a very valuable process… but I also want to create a situation where people feel really uncomfortable financially holding on to derelict properties.”