Councils should buy 500 vacant

THERE is “no justification” for councils not purchasing up to 500 vacant properties under compulsory purchase orders (CPO), according to the Peter McVerry Trust.

Figures obtained by the Irish Independent show only 13 properties have been obtained by the four Dublin local authorities this year.

Dublin City Council (DCC) has used the CPO process to obtain only seven properties, six of which were used for social housing so far this year. The other property was sold through an auction process and has been rendered non-derelict.

Fingal County Council has never used the CPO process to obtain housing in the area.

However, the council has secured more than 10 properties that were either vacant or abandoned for a significant period of time. These properties were purchased directly by the council without going through the CPO process.

South Dublin County Council has purchased four properties, while Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown has purchased two.

Francis Doherty, from the Peter McVerry Trust, told the Irish Independent councils should make a “big bang” by obtaining 500 properties under the CPO process.

The Peter McVerry Trust has made a submission to the councils specifically addressing the need to utilise CPOs to obtain a targeted 500 properties in the city.