Westmeath County Council were on a Revenue list yesterday in which councils were due unpaid levies.
Athlone Mayor, Frankie Keena says he wants Revenue to get involved in sorting out the derelict site levy.
Westmeath County Council is currently owed over 2 million euro in unpaid levies.
Beyond posting an annual bill to the property owner, the council has to wait until site is sold to collect what's owed.
While there are 81 of these properties on the the local authorities's list, Councillor Keena says he recently personally surveyed Athlone, and found around 130 vacant properties in his town alone.
The Fianna Fail rep believes the council should incentivise investors with rates discounts to take over these sites by bringing back the 'Business Incentive Scheme'.
However he says the first solution is State intervention:
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