Council ramps up Anti-Dereliction Drive

Through the Croí Cónaithe grant, over 550 applications have been received, with 400 approvals granted and 91 projects completed

Cavan County Council is stepping up its campaign against dereliction across the county, making significant headway in transforming vacant and neglected properties into much-needed homes and community assets.

At the centre of this initiative is the Council’s Property Activation Team—a cross-disciplinary group that unites expertise from Housing, Planning, Community and Enterprise, IT, and Town Regeneration. Together, the team ensures that every avenue is explored in bringing properties back into productive use for the people of Cavan.

Recent projects highlight the impact of this coordinated approach. The new St Brigid’s Place development in Cavan Town has delivered 20 modern housing units on the site of eight long-vacant houses, one of which was secured through a compulsory purchase order (CPO). Similarly, five derelict cottages in Ballyjamesduff—acquired by CPO in 2023—are set to give way to a development of 12 new social homes, currently at the design stage. Additional properties in Cootehill and Cavan Town have also recently been acquired for regeneration.

The Council’s commitment to tackling dereliction is also reflected in its enforcement activity. Over the past year, more than 300 statutory notices have been issued under the Derelict Sites Act, with 938 active cases currently being monitored or processed.

Meanwhile, Cavan County Council is exploring ways to bring 37 more derelict properties in Cavan Town back to life under a €3.5 million allocation from the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) Call-3. This self-replenishing fund, supported by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, aims to reactivate vacant and derelict sites through a sustainable investment model.

While compulsory purchase remains an important tool, the Council’s preferred approach is one of collaboration. By working directly with property owners—encouraging participation in schemes such as the Croí Cónaithe Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant or negotiating sales—Cavan County Council has achieved substantial results without resorting to legal measures in most cases.

Among the success stories are the former Duckin’ Stool property in Belturbet, now transformed into three modern apartments; six derelict cottages at Widows Row, soon to be replaced by nine new homes; and the former Briody’s Hardware store in Kilnaleck, where eight new apartments are under construction and due for completion by mid-2026. The Council is also finalising the acquisition of an unfinished estate in Cootehill, paving the way for the refurbishment of 13 houses and construction of 31 additional homes.

Support for private owners has also been strong. Through the Croí Cónaithe grant, over 550 applications have been received, with 400 approvals granted and 91 projects completed, enabling new residents to move into their refurbished homes. To date, over €5 million in grant funding has been paid out.

Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, Cllr John Paul Feeley, welcomed the progress: “I am pleased to see the Council make such strong progress in combating dereliction in our towns and villages. There are a number of options available to property owners, including substantial grant supports to renovate their buildings. Where owners are unable or unwilling to do so, our Property Activation Team will explore every option to restore the property to use—including compulsory purchase, where necessary. Only through this proactive approach can we rid our streets of the blight of dereliction.”

Chief Executive Eoin Doyle echoed this sentiment, commending the collaborative spirit of the initiative: “I applaud the efforts of our Property Activation Team in restoring vacant and derelict properties to use, where they can once again serve our communities as homes or commercial spaces. In most cases, property owners want to see their buildings in use, and our goal is to support them—whether through grants or negotiated purchases. Where this is not possible, the Council will not hesitate to use compulsory purchase powers to achieve positive outcomes.”

The Council encourages members of the public to help identify derelict properties in their communities. Reports can be made through the Derelict Sites Reporting Survey available on the Council’s website at www.cavancoco.ie/services/planning-building/derelict-sites