Vacant and derelict housing levies
Senator Higgins argued that vacant-property incentives are welcome but insufficient, saying the vacant-house levy is too low and derelict-home collections are not working. The Chair twice cut in on time, but she pressed that housing policy needs stronger penalties as well as carrots.
A small point I would make-----
Comment on this
Thank you. It is a very small point in regard to the housing piece. I am delighted with anything that pushes vacant properties into use, but I am very concerned that we have been waiting a long time with the carrots when we have sticks that have not been used adequately. The 0.3% vacant house levy is deeply inadequate. Back in 2017, in the Seanad, we proposed a much higher levy.
Comment on this
The collection in regard to derelict housing is not happening. If we are debating it, and I have heard others raising the issue of housing policy, we need to look to the sticks as well as the carrots.