The amount of properties county councils are acquiring through the scheme has increased significantly.
There's been a significant rise in the number of Midlands properties entered into the the Compulsory Purchase Order scheme.
The mechanism is used by local authorities to identify vacant or derelict properties for renewal.
Offaly saw a 123% increase between 2023 and 2024, from 72 properties to 161 last year.
In Westmeath the figure jumped 82%, from 204 to 112 , while CPO's are up 48% in Laois from 146 to 217.
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