261. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding provided for CPO of properties; and the number of properties CPOed in each of the past five years, by local authority, in tabular form. [54079/26]

Working to end dereliction and vacancy is a key priority in the Government's housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities. The Plan aims to ensure that the activities and resources used to address vacancy and dereliction are co-ordinated and effective and that legislative powers are used proactively to work to bring dereliction and vacancy to an end.

The CPO Activation Programme, launched in April 2023, requires a proactive and systematic approach by local authorities to identifying and activating vacant and derelict properties.

Local authorities are identifying vacant and derelict properties and engaging with owners to bring these properties back into use using the wide range of schemes now in place. This includes using their compulsory purchase powers under the Derelict Sites Act 1990 and the Housing Act 1966, when engagement with the owners of these properties is not successful.

While local authorities vary in their willingness to use compulsory purchase powers, my Department is working to support local authorities to strengthen their activation response to vacancy and dereliction.

My Department has published CPO Activation Programme data for 2023, 2024 and 2025 on its website, which can be accessed at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/compulsory-purchase-orders-cpo-activation-programme

Funding is available to local authorities through the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund Call 3, the Social Housing Investment Programme, from the Housing Finance Agency or local authorities' own internal resources, to finance the acquisition of vacant and derelict properties, including compulsorily.

Under Call 3 of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), Government established a €150 million revolving fund for local authorities to acquire vacant or derelict properties, using their compulsory purchase powers where necessary. My Department has also made funding for staff resources available to local authorities as part of URDF Call 3, to support their work tackling vacancy and dereliction.

To date, over 1,370 properties have now been approved for URDF Call 3 programmes, potentially resulting in over 5,600 homes.

To further strengthen our approach to tackling this issue, a Derelict Property Tax was announced in Budget 2026 and it is intended to introduce legislation providing for the tax in 2026. When it comes into effect, the tax will replace the Derelict Sites Levy and will be collected by the Revenue Commissioners. Levies under the Derelict Sites Act that remain outstanding when the new tax is introduced will remain the responsibility of each local authority to collect.

The Housing Plan's new measures build on the significant work that has been done and outcomes achieved over the past number of years, as well as improving and expanding existing schemes. These initiatives are working and vacancy levels are declining across the country.

I firmly believe the commitment Government has made to addressing vacancy and dereliction and the actions under Delivering Homes, Building Communities will continue to play a vital role in delivering homes across the country.