How the State ends up fining itself over derelict sites

A boarded-up bungalow in the village of Newtown, Doonane, stands as a quiet symbol of a broader national struggle. Located adjacent to a community crèche, the former health centre has been a source of local frustration for years. While the building was added to the local authority’s derelict sites register in 2024, the council chose not to apply the associated annual levy, as doing so would have effectively resulted in the State fining itself.

This property is one of approximately 2,500 sites currently listed on the 31 local authority derelict sites registers across the country. While the majority of these sites are in private hands, an analysis of the registers reveals that State bodies are frequent contributors to the problem, with 15 entries linked to four public organisations. This internal contradiction—where one arm of the State is tasked with addressing dereliction while others contribute to it—highlights the complexities of the Derelict Sites Act 1990.

Did You Know? The Derelict Sites Act 1990 provides local authorities with the power to identify and act on neglected properties, yet the registers maintained by these authorities are not always exhaustive and vary significantly in how they are published, and accessed.

State Bodies and Systemic Delays

The HSE is among the public bodies appearing on these registers. In Dublin, three former shop premises on James’s Street were added to the register in 2019. Despite the HSE acquiring the site in 2023 for development, a council official noted a “distinct lack of progress” in a 2025 letter. The HSE reported paying over €377,000 in levies for this site between 2023 and 2025.

In Wexford, a former County Hospital on the campus of Wexford General Hospital has fallen into severe decay. Labour councillor Catherine ‘Biddy’ Walsh, who has lived as a neighbour to the site for over 30 years, described the building as moving from “bad to worse to complete decay.” The HSE noted the site is required for future hospital campus development and confirmed no levy has been applied.

CIÉ also faces scrutiny, with eight entries on derelict sites registers. A row of properties at 10–13 Conyngham Road, Dublin, has been a subject of concern since 1992. Despite decades of warnings from local authorities, the buildings were only registered as derelict in 2019. CIÉ, which has paid more than €200,000 in levies in recent years, stated that these properties are linked to ongoing masterplan projects or future operational use.

Public Money and Property Management

The Department of Education is currently listed as the owner of two derelict sites in Dublin’s north inner-city. Linked to a school project that has been stalled for over a decade, these sites at Seville Place and Emerald Street were added to the register in 2023. The department confirmed it paid just under €90,000 in levies between 2024 and 2026.

Independent councillor Christy Burke remarked that the situation involves public money being recycled into a building that has remained idle for decades. Meanwhile, the Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible for a former garda station in Monaghan that has been vacant since 2012. While the OPW is complying with requirements, no levies have been paid on its registered sites.

Expert Insight: The persistence of these derelict sites, even within the public sector, suggests that the challenge lies not only in the identification of properties but in the systemic hurdles—such as legal title complications, funding dependencies, and shifting development priorities—that prevent the efficient repurposing of state-owned assets.

Looking Ahead

The Department of Housing is currently working toward the publication of an aggregated, digital national derelict sites register later this year. This initiative aims to consolidate data from all 31 local authorities, potentially increasing public transparency regarding property ownership and status.

However, it remains uncertain whether this national register will include detailed ownership information. For campaigners like Frank O’Connor and Jude Sherry, who have spent years documenting dereliction, the goal is a comprehensive registration system that tracks property usage nationwide. As the State moves toward a centralized data model, the primary challenge remains whether this transparency will lead to the resolution of long-standing dereliction cases.

Frequently Asked Questions

How are derelict sites identified?
Local authorities maintain registers under the Derelict Sites Act 1990 for properties they deem to be in such poor condition that they detract from the character or amenities of the surrounding area.

Are all derelict properties listed on the registers?
No, the registers are not exhaustive and do not capture the full extent of dereliction nationwide, as they are maintained by individual local authorities with varying levels of public accessibility.

What is the purpose of the derelict sites levy?
The levy is a financial tool designed to pressure owners to tackle dereliction by applying an annual charge of 7% of the property’s market value until the site is rendered non-derelict.

What steps do you believe the government should take to ensure that publicly owned buildings do not remain derelict for decades?