Councillor Niall Gaffney is seeking for the Derelict Property Tax to be reinvested in local housing schemes.
Derelict properties are taking over the Midlands.
That is according to Mullingar/Kinnegad Councillor Niall Gaffney, who says derelict buildings can be seen on the main streets of most towns across the country.
He says it is an issue nationwide.
The Fianna Fáil councillor highlighted: "There is definitely a derelict property problem, particularly in our smaller towns and villages, and you see it, you see it on every main street."
Councillor Gaffney recently sought confirmation from the Minister for Finance that money collected by Revenue through the Derelict Property Tax 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 says that, given the new powers extended to Revenue to collect the tax, it would be appropriate for the money to be returned to the local authority so it can be reinvested in the area.
He hopes this initiative could help get derelict properties in the area back on the market.
Furthermore, he highlighted that investing the tax revenue into affordable housing schemes would be beneficial.
This would also help locals, particularly young families, who are trying to find accommodation.
However, Councillor Gaffney acknowledged that, through relatively new schemes and initiatives, more derelict houses have come back into use.
He describes his motion as an extra incentive to regenerate derelict properties and bring them back into use within communities.:
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