A majority of the country’s local authorities are failing to collect levies owed to by the owners of derelict sites. 

According to new figures released to the Social Democrats, potentially as much as €20 million is owed. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, the party’s housing spokesperson Rory Hearne described the figures as “stark”. 

“Local authorities are stretched, under-resourced, underfunded in this country and, of course, that’s part of actually the reason why they’re not going after it,” he said. 

“They simply, some of them, haven’t allocated the resources, the staffing, to go after this. 

“This isn’t a new problem; this is a problem that’s been going on for many, many years.”

Deputy Hearne added that in other local authorities there is simply a “lack of interest or will”. 

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Main image: A derelict homestead outside Carrickmacross in County Monaghan.