In the middle of a housing crisis, it is unacceptable that Tipperary County Council collected not one wafer-thin copper cent in derelict property tax in 2024.
Across the country, millions in derelict-site levies remain uncollected while homes lie idle, streets are blighted, and families continue to wait for secure housing. Tipperary was reportedly the only local authority in Munster not to collect any derelict property tax in 2024/25.
Even Tánaiste Mr Simon Harris has now acknowledged the failure, saying the new derelict property tax is being driven by frustration at the lack of action and that local authorities have not done enough to tackle dereliction. If Government itself can see the system is failing, then Tipperary County Council must explain why no derelict property tax was collected here in 2024 while so many people remain in housing need.
This is not good enough. Derelict and vacant properties are not just an eyesore. They are a wasted public resource at a time when people are struggling to rent, young families cannot buy, and many are waiting years for social housing.
In Tipperary alone, 1,358 households were recorded in 2024 as qualifying for social housing support whose need was not being met. The latest homelessness figures also show 98 adults in emergency accommodation in Tipperary during one week in April 2026.
What are our sleepy Municipal District Councillors & Politicians doing to correct this situation? Answer – Absolutely Nothing.
Every suitable derelict property should be identified, pursued, taxed where appropriate, and brought back into use. Where owners refuse to act, the Council should use every legal power available, including compulsory purchase orders where necessary.
A housing crisis demands action, not excuses. Tipperary needs enforcement, accountability, and urgency. Leaving homes idle while people are desperate for housing is indefensible.
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