Several local authorities made no compulsory purchases of homes or sites in 2023 or 2024, according to statistics to be presented to Cabinet on Tuesday.
Minister for Housing James Browne is to brief Ministers on efforts to tackle dereliction, including local authorities’ use of the powers to buy up vacant and derelict sites and properties.
According to the Department of Housing data, councils in Dún Laoighaire Rathdown, Galway (county and city), Kerry, Louth and Leitrim did not use the powers to complete acquisitions in either year.
Some other large local authorities only completed purchases sparingly, with Cork City and County Councils completing eight each, Dublin City buying nine, South Dublin buying four and Fingal three.
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A Fianna Fáil source said that compulsory purchase order (CPO) powers were complex but highlighted that some local authorities had used that option more than others. They argued that tackling dereliction, including through CPO powers, would come under increasing focus.
Mr Browne will also bring a review of the State’s response to Storm Éowyn, which knocked out services to hundreds of thousands of people earlier this year.
Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers is to brief Ministers on plans to overhaul rules and guidance on State spending. It will entail a review of public financial procedures, with the aim of ensuring better value for money.
They have not been reviewed since 2008.
With State expenditure having increased by more than 50 per cent in the last five years, Mr Chambers will say additional allocations within budget periods are significantly driving the rise. Improvements in spending discipline will be targeted by the review, along with ccountability and the evidence base for decisions.
Recommendations will follow in the first half of 2026.
Elsewhere, Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon is to warn Cabinet of an increased risk of avian influenza this year. Last week, Fota Wildlife Park in Cork was closed until further notice after samples from captive birds who had died at the facility tested positive for avian flu.
Elsewhere, Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan is introducing a law that would allow judgments against those prosecuted for offences relating to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence to be published on a publicly available list.
The law will say that the court retains the “discretion” to decide whether a judgment against an abuser should be included on the list. The victim will also need to give their consent before an abuser is named on the register.
The courts will have the power to decide to include “information within the judgment as it deems necessary”.
Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke will update Cabinet on the Cost of Business Advisory Forum. It has so far looked at energy costs, security of supply and insurance. For the remainder of this year and early next year it will look at regulatory burden, planning and infrastructure delivery and water costs.
Tánaiste Simon Harris will update Cabinet on preparations for hosting the EU presidency next year, including a planned public consultation process and child and youth-friendly versions of its policy programme. Mr Harris will say that a housing summit may also be held in Ireland as party of the presidency.
Minister for Culture Patrick O’Donovan will update cabinet on the digitisation of the 1926 census – the first taken after independence.
