The Business Post is reporting that one of the country’s largest local authorities has called for greater powers to tackle long-term vacancy due to an ongoing stand-off between it and Dunnes Stores.
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has been in talks with the retailer, to bring four empty retail units in Dún Laoghaire that have been vacant for 20 years town centre back into use.
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council told the Business Post it had limited powers to address long-term vacancy of buildings that are not deemed derelict.
“This may point to a need for making representations to the legislature to consider strengthening the powers of local authorities to deal with vacant and unoccupied buildings, as distinct from those that may be considered to be derelict as set out in the Derelict Sites Act, 1990.”
