Dublin City Council is owed almost €17 million in vacant site levies since its introduction four years ago.
The figure was released to Sinn Fein Councillor Daitihi Doolan who said the funds are "urgently" needed for community and sports facilities across the city. Over half of all local authorities in the country reportedly haven't collected a single euro in vacant site levies since their introduction in 2018.
Dublin Live previously reported on the €20 million the Council was owed in vacant and derelict site levies back in January of this year. Back then, €16 million was owed to the local authority in vacant site levies and €3.5 million was owed on derelict sites.
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Councillor Daithi Doolan said it was "shocking" that DCC was owed this amount of cash when they face "huge" financial challenges. He said: "Dublin City Council is owed a massive €16,948,800 in unpaid Vacant Site Levies.
"The figure was revealed in response from City Council management to me at tonight's Council meeting. It is shocking that at a time when Dublin City Council faces huge financial challenges we are owed nearly €17M in site levies.
"This money is urgently needed for community & sports facilities fir Dublin. These communities are being held to ransom by greedy land owners who refuse to pay their way.
"This money must be collected as a matter of urgency and used to fund badly needed services across Dublin." Councillors were told at a meeting on Monday that there is a €50 million hole in the budget due to inflation and increases in energy costs.
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