600 vacant properties identified in Laois

Laois County Council has identified 600 vacant properties across the county. 

A Vacant Homes Team survey of properties identified as being vacant in data supplied by GeoDirectory (via a Dept of Housing 2022 initiative) has shown so far that of the 977 properties surveyed, both residential and commercial, 600 properties were vacant, with 39 of those also found to have some elements of dereliction. 

Independent Cllr James Kelly asked what happens now? He said the Compulsory Purchase Order(CPO) system took a long time. Meanwhile, “dereliction and vacancy is still there,” he remarked. 

Fianna Fail Cllr Paddy Bracken agreed and described one location in Mountmellick as a disgrace.  

The monthly management report set out the process for vacant and derelict properties. 

It stated that Laois Housing Section would endeavour to contact the owners of the vacant residential properties and outline the schemes available to return these properties to use for social housing. 

Where ownership cannot be established, local enquiries will continue in relation to ownership, vacancy history, etc. Where all other means of returning the properties to use have been exhausted, use of the CPO process to acquire properties deemed to be suitable for social housing may be considered.

Director of Services Angela McEvoy said the CPO procedure was lengthy. She said the property owners have to be “given a chance” after the properties are identified. 

“We have started to do them and we have five of them that we have advertised,” Ms McEvoy said. 

Cllr Kelly asked Ms McEvoy about a site on Shannon Road in Mountrath. She informed him that there had been “legal correspondence” issued in relation to the location.