Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
THE COLLAPSE OF a derelict building in Dublin city centre is a sign that the government must increase the derelict site levy, according to Dublin City Green Party councillor Hazel Chu.
The vacant building, which is located across the road from the Grand Canal in Dublin 6, partially collapsed this week, resulting in Dublin Fire Brigade having to attend the scene to make it safe.
Speaking to The Journal, Chu said she was very frustrated about the incident, stating that some years ago in 2021 she tried to get the site rezoned for mixed use residential and commercial, but the proposal was rejected.
Instead, it remained for commercial use only.
The building was placed on the vacant sites register in 2023.
Planning permission for the site was obtained in 2024, but no work had begun on the site prior to its collapse, she said.
While the 7% derelict site levy was applied in 2023, it is clearly not enough to encourage the development of sites, Chu said.
Each local authority keeps a Derelict Sites Register which includes the sites subject to an annual levy of 7% of its market value for being in a “ruinous, derelict, dangerous or neglected condition”.
The levy continues to apply until the site is no longer deemed derelict
“It is clearly not enough in terms of applying to derelict sites around the city,” she said, adding that the government is literally “letting buildings fall down before we actual move to do something about them,” said the former Lord Mayor of Dublin.
She also questioned why some sites were being zoned for commercial use and not residential in the middle of a housing crisis.
Chu has suggested higher levies could apply for larger developers who have an ability to pay higher rates and who leave sites vacant.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
It’s appalling that we don’t have sufficient mental health services for our children. Look at the absolute state of our mental health buildings that are centuries old, imagine adding the fear of them into the mix. Our government need to address this issue because unfortunately the numbers will continue to rise year on year.
Adult services arent much better. This country will never change
The Mental Health Commission state they have highlighted they “have CONSISTENTLY HIGHLIGHTED these issues in ANNUAL Reports since 2012 so why didn’t these issues received URGENT attention in 2012,2013,2014,2015,2016&2017?Why is only 6% of Health budget spent on Mental Health services?
Our government pledged 18m last budget for mental health services and within months retracted 12m ..shame on them
@Craig Barry: hell in 2016 Harris promised 35 million and it was reduced to 15million later on. It’s shocking but FG don’t care about the vulnerable in this country. Neither did Fianna Fáil by the way. The first cuts in the recession were to Special needs and mentally ill adults
With direct experience in respect of my own teen, the devastating frustration and pain that this grave failing is causing to kids, adults, families is nothing short of a national shame. Words cannot do justice to the hurt caused. It is state neglect of some of the most vulnerable in our society. Time to fix it Minister Simon Harris. #CALL FOR REFORM #CAMHS #YOUNG PEOPLE #MENTAL HEALTH
@Gail Weston: I feel your pain. My young teen started self harming at the start of March and wanted to end his life. On one of his appointment’s in Pieta House I was advised to bring him to A&E and that he would more than likely be kept in and given MED’s, when I said I’m not leaving my child in hospital to be given MED’s when nobody seems to know what his issues are. I was told my only other option was to take him home and watch him 24/7 so that’s what I did with no help or services, just told to bring him to A&E if I couldn’t cope. 5 mount’s down the road and nothing has changed, its heartbreaking.
I heard the case of a mother with two young kids and a troubled young teenage yound man who is threatening to kill all in the house. there is no place for him. she was told. she is terrified.
Yet again a cry for more resources for public services. Yet again no call for increased income tax if we want to pay for these resources. If we want better than what we have now we will have to pay more than what we are paying now.
have your say