Ireland’s councils initiated a compulsory purchase order (CPO) on a single derelict property in County Waterford last month, according to reporting from The Journal.
The CPO process allows public bodies to acquire land, even if the owner is unwilling to sell. The case in Waterford represents the sole application of this power by Irish councils in January 2026, highlighting a limited use of available tools to address vacant and derelict buildings.
A Compulsory Purchase Order Activation Programme, launched in April 2023, aims to assist local authorities in utilizing their legal powers to acquire vacant or derelict properties when owners are uncooperative or cannot be located. The program is designed to prevent properties from remaining empty and deteriorating.
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage introduced the activation program to encourage councils to actively tackle the issue of vacant properties. Teams within councils – including Vacant Homes Officers, Derelict Sites Teams, Town Regeneration Officers, and Social Housing Teams – are tasked with identifying properties, contacting owners, offering support for renovation, and, as a last resort, initiating CPOs.
Funding for these acquisitions and subsequent redevelopment is available through several sources, including the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), the Social Housing Investment Programme, and the Housing Finance Agency. Councils are required to establish targets, track their progress, and report their results as part of the Delivering Homes, Building Communities plan.
The limited number of CPOs initiated in January, as reported by The Journal, contrasts with the broader goals of the CPO Activation Programme and the funding mechanisms available to councils. Data on the overall achievements of the program will be published annually.
