'Legal proceedings by the end of the year' - Tipperary dereliction

“None of the monies owed have yet been paid, and the authority is to embark on a strong campaign to combat vacant and derelict buildings that will involve CPO proceedings and legal action in the courts in the second half of the year” Shane Grogan, Tipperary County Council Regeneration Officer told a meeting of Clonmel Borough District.

Shane Grogan told Clonmel public representatives that there were 40 buildings on the derelict sites register in Clonmel on January 1 2026.

Some of those forty buildings would have had levies issued on them and the buildings most recently added to the register would not yet have been levied.

He told the July meeting that demands for levies of €1.2 million had been sent out and Tipperary County Council had yet to receive any funds in.

He told members that the demands sent out will be followed up and, come September, a selection of owners of property who have not engaged will take place and court proceedings will be undertaken.

“Legal proceedings would start by the end of the year,” he said.

The regeneration officer informed the meeting about a public meeting to take place at the Talbot Hotel on July 29 where council officials would be available to meet property owners and offer advice on the various supports that are available to bring vacant and derelict buildings back into use.

He said the meeting would offer advice to property owners and also to people who might be thinking of opening a business.

Shane Grogan also informed the meeting that members should expect to see CPO proceedings being taken against some property owners in Clonmel who would be targeted in the next four to eight weeks.

Extensive discussions had taken place with property owners in Clonmel, and the CPO orders were the next step.

There was funding available to proceed with CPO proceedings, he said, which would be taking place throughout the county but in particular in Clonmel.

The regeneration officer had been responding to questions from members on issues of dereliction.

Cllr Tom Acheson asked if any of the levies issued to owners of properties in Clonmel had been paid, and he wanted to know if the funds were there to allow the authority to pursue CPO orders.

Mayor Cllr Siobhan Ambrose said it was up to the members to spread the message about the advice and guidance that was there for owners of vacant and derelict properties and urged owners to attend the public meeting on July 29.

Cllr Ambrose said it was very important for the council to give every opportunity to property owners to engage and be informed.

She said there were stories behind every derelict or vacant building and some would involve illness, legal issues or issues to do with wills.

The meeting, she said, would allow engagement to take place.

She praised Clonmel businessman David Anchell for opening a vacant building in Market Place to provide a platform to local artists and said the opening of a unit there was a welcome development.

Cllr Ambrose also called for additional funding to be made available so that the authority could take steps to keep protected structures in the town.

Cllr Acheson asked the officials if owners of derelict and vacant properties could sell the property if the council had issued a levy in relation to that building.

Shane Grogan responded that “The levy was a charge against the property. If there was a sale, the levy would have to be discharged first”.