Most derelict sites in Ireland face no enforcement

Ireland faces a significant challenge with derelict properties, as a majority are not subject to enforcement, an RTÉ Investigates analysis has revealed. The lack of a unified national measure for dereliction and varying definitions among local authorities create a substantial gap in understanding and addressing the issue.

Nadia Ramoutar, an artist and mother who moved to Arklow, Co. Wicklow, eight years ago, voiced her frustration with the town's derelict buildings. "These buildings just completely violate that. They say, 'Nobody cares, it doesn't matter, aesthetics aren't important,'" she stated, highlighting the negative impact on the town's atmosphere and community pride.

“

One of the reasons I live in Arklow is that I love nature. I'm an artist, and I'm raising an autistic son. I love the small-town community feel. And these buildings just completely violate that. They say, 'Nobody cares, it doesn't matter, aesthetics aren't important.' I think it says a lot, and it says all the wrong things.

Despite numerous complaints, a former pub on Main Street in Arklow, with a partially collapsed roof, has not been added to Wicklow County Council's derelict sites register. This register, which currently lists only two properties, is the primary tool councils use to take enforcement action against owners. The property's exclusion exemplifies a broader pattern where much of Ireland's dereliction goes unrecorded in official registers.

Adding to the complexity, housing policy lecturer Dr. Lorcan Sirr noted that there is no settled definition of 'derelict.' "Derelict to one person isn't necessarily derelict to another," he explained, pointing out that the legislation enabling action is broad, and councils interpret it differently. While the Central Statistics Office tracks housing vacancy, it does not collect data on dereliction, further hindering a comprehensive understanding of the problem.

“

Does it mean no roof, no windows? Derelict to one person isn't necessarily derelict to another. So, defining what constitutes dereliction is a really tricky one.