‘Give local authorities a Swat team to tackle derelict homes’, says MEP

EVERY local authority needs a dedicated team to speed up the process of compulsorily buying houses left derelict.

That’s the view of Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher, who is seeking a second term in the European parliament.

He says in recent weeks on the campaign trail ahead ofh the June 7 election, he’s been disturbed by properties in towns, villages and the countryside across the Ireland South constituency which appear in need of repair.

“Property owners who consistently allow their buildings to become derelict are engaging in societal vandalism,” said Mr Kelleher, who is a native of Cork City.

He acknowledged as an MEP he does not have a role to play in housing, he wanted to highlight this as one of the biggest issues he is facing while canvassing.

Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien has put in place supports to help those buy derelict homes.

“However, our local authorities need the resources, funding and expertise needed to actively compulsorily purchase derelict properties that are not being put onto the market by owners,” he added.

“The carrot is being offered by the government but it’s really time for the stick now,” he added.

With funding, he believes the Swat teams at council could have the legal, engineering, planning and administrative expertise to follow the process until the very end.

“While all our Local Authorities have property units that are nominally responsible for compulsory purchases, I don’t think this essential process is being prioritised,” he added.

Mr Kelleher, who attended Salesian Agricultural College, Pallaskenry, said all local authorities should be given targets around the number of homes they can remove from dereliction - and be incentivised if they meet or exceed these goals.

“We quite simply have too many derelict homes. They are being left idle, to fall into rack and ruin,” he concluded.

“The upshot is possibly tens of thousands of potential homes in our towns, villages and rural communities being left idle when we have a housing crisis on our hands.

“Targeting the low hanging fruit i.e. providing grants to people who buy derelict homes is paying dividends. It’s now time to put in place the teams that can follow through on the necessary process to bring this other sector of our housing stock back into use for the common good,” concluded Kelleher.