Galway West TD Mairéad Farrell has asked the Government what actions they are taking to stop vacant sites being hoarded in Galway City.
The Sinn Féin TD also highlighted her party’s opposition to the Local Property Tax, saying that it will impact on ordinary people who are struggling to get by.
Raising the issue with Minister Paschal Donohoe in the Dáil, Deputy Farrell said that vacant sites are plaguing many cities across the country.
“What is the Government doing to make the vacant site levy a more effective tool to stop the hoarding of derelict site in the middle of a housing crisis?” the Galway TD asked.
Deputy Farrell gave the example of the derelict site at the former Corrib Great Southern Hotel which is at the entrance to Galway City.
“This has long been an eyesore at the gateway to our City, which has seen numerous fires and anti-social behaviour. It has been a great concern to residents for a number of years,” she said.
Deputy Farrell said that planning permission to demolish the current structures at this site was granted in 2010 and that the site was added to the derelict sites register in January 2015.
“Yet we’re still here years later stuck with this eyesore in one of the most prominent locations on the east side of the city,” she said.
“We can’t afford lands lying idle in Galway when we have young people who can’t find an affordable home here, a crisis in student accommodation and massive housing waiting lists.
“So while the Government are hellbent to make ordinary people pay the Local Property Tax what is being done to stop this hoarding of property by developers when people cannot afford to pay rents or buy houses.”
