George Lawlor on derelict buildings and rapid reallocation of voids
George Lawlor criticised local authorities for delays in returning void houses and highlighted long-term derelict buildings creating dangerous sites. He urged faster reallocation of vacated homes, fuller use of local authority powers on dereliction, and wider use of ALDA after St Kevin's redevelopment.
George Lawlor said he listened to criticism of local authorities but drew on 20 years on Wexford County Council to warn that large-scale derelict buildings create dangerous places for young people and children. He argued that many local authorities do good work on voids but that action on dereliction is often lacking in application, resource and desire.
He cited specific sites in Wexford as examples: the old Wexford General Hospital lying derelict for 33 years, the Hookless Village Resort in Hookhead derelict for 18 years, and St Kevin's Hospital which he said had been closed since 2002. These cases were used to illustrate the scale and longevity of dereliction in local communities.
Lawlor noted that where a building or company goes into receivership it can vest in the ownership of the Minister for Public Expenditure, complicating local efforts. He acknowledged the complexity of the law and asked whether the HSE or other bodies could do more to resolve such cases.
He proposed two key actions: houses vacated should be very quickly reallocated to other tenants on the housing list given the housing crisis, and local authorities must more readily use their derelict powers, showing tenacity and perseverance. He pointed to St Kevin's as a positive example, saying it had been taken over by ALDA and developed into a good housing scheme, and said he wants ALDA to acquire more such properties, echoing a point made by another deputy.
Main complaints
George Lawlor said he listened to criticism of local authorities but drew on 20 years on Wexford County Council to warn that large-scale derelict buildings create dangerous places for young people and children. He argued that many local authorities do good work on voids but that action on dereliction is often lacking in application, resource and desire.
Examples from Wexford
He cited specific sites in Wexford as examples: the old Wexford General Hospital lying derelict for 33 years, the Hookless Village Resort in Hookhead derelict for 18 years, and St Kevin's Hospital which he said had been closed since 2002. These cases were used to illustrate the scale and longevity of dereliction in local communities.
Ownership and legal issues
Lawlor noted that where a building or company goes into receivership it can vest in the ownership of the Minister for Public Expenditure, complicating local efforts. He acknowledged the complexity of the law and asked whether the HSE or other bodies could do more to resolve such cases.
Proposed measures and ALDA example
He proposed two key actions: houses vacated should be very quickly reallocated to other tenants on the housing list given the housing crisis, and local authorities must more readily use their derelict powers, showing tenacity and perseverance. He pointed to St Kevin's as a positive example, saying it had been taken over by ALDA and developed into a good housing scheme, and said he wants ALDA to acquire more such properties, echoing a point made by another deputy.
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Transcript
I listened with interest last week as you scolded local authorities for their inaction or delays in returning void houses back into use, however as someone who has served on Wexford County Council for 20 years, one of the things that caused some of the greatest headaches were large scale derelict buildings that created dangerous places for young people and children in particular to venture into. I think of Wexford, the old Wexford General Hospital lying dangerously derelict for 33 years. I think Hookless Village Resort in Hookhead in Wexford lying dangerously derelict for 18 years. Indeed in your own constituency I think it's St Kevin's Hospital since 2002 has been closed. I think I'm correct in suggesting that. These buildings, like Hookless is vested in the ownership of the Minister for Public Expenditure where a building goes in or a company goes into receivership, it becomes vested in the ownership of the Minister for Public Expenditure. Thank you Deputy. And the HSE or the rest, is there anything we can do to solve these issues? Two things. First of all, a lot of local authorities do a lot of good work. In terms of voids, and you have been on the City Council, I think all of us have complained over the years, if a house is vacated, tenants might have left for whatever reason. It stays, for an orderly limited time, unoccupied. And that system has to change. That house should be very quickly reallocated to other tenants in the housing list. And in the housing crisis that we're in, there's no excuse for not doing that, that's my view. Secondly, local authorities have powers on the derelict side side. I think there's a lack of application, and a lack of resource application, and a lack of desire. It's too cumbersome, it's too difficult, it's too this. It's there for a reason. Law is complex, but you need to be tenacious and you need to persevere. Thirdly, St Kevin's has been taken over by the ALDA, and a very good housing scheme has now been developed. Deputy Michael Collins. He's right in one respect, and that's why we want the ALDA to acquire more of these properties