Call To Ringfence Derelict Property Tax for Affordable Housing In Midlands

Friday, 13 November 2026 at 07:55

A motion was put forward in a recent Mullingar Kinnegad meeting to ringfence some tax for afforable housing.

Derelict property tax needs to be ring-fenced around Midlands towns and villages to support affordable housing.

That is according to Mullingar/Kinnegad councillor Niall Gaffney who recently sought confirmation that money collected through the Derelict Property Tax by Revenue will be reinvested in local areas.

Owners of derelict properties currently pay 7% of the estimated market value of the site or building for each year it remains derelict.

He said that, given the new powers extended to Revenue to collect the tax, it would be appropriate for the money raised to be returned to the local authority so it can be reinvested in the area.

At the most recent Mullingar/Kinnegad Municipal District meeting, the Fianna Fáil councillor put forward a motion calling on the council to write to the Minister for Justice to ensure that money collected through the Derelict Property Tax is ring-fenced and allocated to kick-start affordable housing schemes.

He believes that using the tax revenue to fund affordable housing schemes would benefit local communities and help provide more homes for young families and people seeking accommodation.

He added that reinvesting the money locally would ensure that communities affected by derelict properties could see a direct benefit from the tax collected: