Successful Local Authority Prosecutions
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Dealing with Derelict Sites
Master the Derelict Sites Act 1990 and prepare for Ireland's new Derelict Property Tax regime. This comprehensive 2-day training programme equips local authority enforcement officers, inspectors, and administrative staff with the legal knowledge and courtroom skills to tackle Ireland's 20,000 derelict properties, prepare CPO applications for An Coimisiún Pleanála, and present evidence confidently at oral hearings and in court.
Online / In Person
2 days
About this course
This specialised programme provides participants with a clear, practical, and legally robust understanding of the Derelict Sites Act 1990 and the operational processes required to address dereliction effectively. Through two carefully structured modules—Law, Evidence & Procedure and Courtroom & Oral Hearing Skills—attendees gain both the legal knowledge and the practical competencies needed to manage derelict sites from initial identification through to enforcement and oral hearings.
The course blends legislative explanation, evidence based practice, report writing, and real world procedural guidance, ensuring participants leave confident in their ability to carry out their statutory functions and present their work professionally when challenged.
Why choose this course
This programme is suitable for local authority inspectors, enforcement officers, administrative staff involved in derelict site processes, and others tasked with implementing the Derelict Sites Act.
Why this training is critical
> 20,000 derelict properties across Ireland as of June 2025, with only 2,052 on official registers, a massive enforcement gap.
> €9.9 million in unpaid fines in Dublin alone, highlighting collection challenges under the current system.
>Major legislative change coming: the 2026 budget introduced a new Derelict Property Tax to replace the Derelict Sites Levy, administered by Revenue Commissioners from 2027.
> Housing crisis pressure: with 16,535 people in emergency accommodation and need for 58,000 new units annually, bringing derelict sites back into use is a national priority.
> Enhanced enforcement powers: property owners who fail to pay can now be added to Revenue's tax defaulters list.
Dealing with derelict sites requires a combination of statutory understanding, investigative ability, and confident presentation of evidence.
This course ensures participants:
Understand the Derelict Sites Act 1990 in depth.
Are able to compile contemporaneous notes, statements, and reports that withstand scrutiny.
Gain insight into courtroom and oral hearing procedures.
Learn techniques used by legal professionals during cross examination or examination in chief.
Build the confidence needed to act as a witness and present evidence with clarity and professionalism.
Course syllabus
Derelict Sites Act 1990: Legal Training & Enforcement Skills for Irish Local Authority Professionals
The course is delivered in two modules, each combining legal theory with applied, interactive learning.
Module 1 — Law, Evidence & Procedure
This module is designed to ensure that enforcement staff, inspectors, administrators, and others with statutory responsibilities under the Derelict Sites Act can confidently apply the legislation in their day to day work. The content emphasises practical skills—accurate note taking, proper report writing, and clear understanding of procedural requirements. By the end of the module, participants will be fully equipped to manage a derelict site case from initial identification through to enforcement actions.
Topics covered:
- Overview of the Derelict Sites Act 1990.
- Key definitions, including the statutory definition of a derelict site.
- Regulations made under the Derelict Sites Act.
- Measures for preventing and controlling dereliction, including the establishment and maintenance of the derelict sites register.
- Powers of local authorities in respect of derelict sites.
- Understanding and issuing derelict sites notices.
- Procedures governing compulsory purchase under the Act.
- Application and calculation of the derelict sites levy.
- Prosecutions and offences under the legislation.
- Powers and responsibilities of authorised persons.
- Principles of evidence relevant to local authority investigations.
- Maintaining accurate contemporaneous notes.
- Techniques for effective statement and report writing.
Module 2 – Courtroom Skills & Oral Hearing Skills
This module equips attendees with the skills needed to present evidence confidently and competently in legal and administrative forums, including courtrooms, oral hearings, and Planning and Development Act procedures.
Topics covered:
- Understanding the adversarial and inquisitorial systems.
- Types of witnesses and forms of evidence.
- The trial procedure from start to finish.
- Oral hearings specifically in relation to derelict sites.
- Conducting and understanding oral hearings under the Planning and Development Acts.
- Behaviour, structure, and expectations within an oral hearing.
- Overview of judicial review in the context of derelict sites.
- The qualities of effective presentation as a witness.
- Preparing thoroughly for giving evidence.
- Techniques commonly used by lawyers during questioning.
- What to bring and how to conduct yourself in the witness stand.
- Glossary of commonly used legal terms.
- Witness self assessment and reflective practice.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Confidently interpret and apply the Derelict Sites Act 1990.
- Correctly identify and classify derelict sites.
- Use local authority powers effectively and lawfully.
- Prepare statutory notices and understand downstream implications.
- Maintain proper standards of evidence from first contact to enforcement.
- Produce high quality notes, statements, and reports suitable for legal or administrative processes.
- Navigate oral hearings and courtroom settings with confidence.
- Understand how legal professionals question witnesses and prepare accordingly.
- Conduct themselves professionally when representing their local authority or organisation.
This programme is essential for:
- Planning Enforcement Officers: Identifying and registering derelict sites.
- Environment Department Staff: Applying the derelict sites levy.
- Legal/Solicitor Departments: Preparing CPO applications and prosecutions.
- Finance Staff: Calculating and collecting derelict sites levies.
- Housing Department Staff: Managing CPOs and bringing sites back into use.
- Administrative Officers: Maintaining derelict sites registers.
- Senior Executive Officers: Overseeing derelict sites processes.
- Anyone who may give evidence at oral hearings or in court regarding derelict sites.
Related resources & information
- Read our blog: Ireland’s Derelict Sites Crisis—What Local Authority Staff Need to Know
- Derelict Sites Act 1990 (Irish Statute Book)
- Derelict Property Tax Information (Department of Housing)
- An Coimisiún Pleanála
Your Trainer – Janet Dalton
Solicitor
Janet grew up in Belfast and won a scholarship to Cambridge where she graduated in 1986 with a degree in Philosophy. She went on to convert to Law and practiced as a criminal Solicitor in London for...
Read BioPractical training with small groups to ensure quality.
Our training sessions are not lectures—they're practical, interactive experiences. The small group format allows every attendee to ask questions, take part in discussions involving practical exercises and role-plays.
This method of training allows attendees to put the skills learned into practice immediately. Course participants benefit from the focused attention and guidance of an independent expert.
Available dates
Prepare your team for enhanced enforcement
With Ireland's new Derelict Property Tax regime coming in 2027 and 20,000 derelict properties to address, local authorities need staff who can enforce the law confidently and defend their work under scrutiny.
This comprehensive 2-day programme provides the legal knowledge and practical skills your enforcement, inspection, and administrative teams need to tackle dereliction effectively.
> Individual bookings: secure your place below.
> Group booking or in-house training: contact us to discuss your local authority's specific needs.
# SELECTED
| Course Dates | Location | Price | Spaces Left | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07/10/26 - 08/10/26 i 07/10/2026 09:30 - 16:30 08/10/2026 09:30 - 16:30 | Zoom Online | €795.00 | 7 |
Local authorities derelict sites enforcement training matters now
FAQs
Absolutely. With the new Derelict Property Tax coming in 2027 and Revenue taking over collection, enforcement is about to intensify nationwide. All local authorities will need staff who understand the legal framework and can support the identification and registration process.
Yes, while legislation is still being drafted, the course will cover what’s known about the new tax regime and how it relates to the existing Derelict Sites Act 1990 framework that underpins it.
Yes, administrative staff who maintain derelict sites registers, calculate levies, or prepare documentation need to understand the legal framework to perform their roles correctly and support enforcement colleagues.
No legal background is required. The course is designed for non-lawyers and explains legislation in accessible, practical terms relevant to local authority operations.
This module specifically covers oral hearings under the Planning and Development Acts and procedures specific to derelict sites cases, including judicial review. It’s tailored to the actual forums where you’ll present evidence, not general court procedures.
CPD hours can be claimed for professional development. Contact us for specific requirements for your professional body.
Yes, this programme can be delivered in-house for your staff. Contact us to discuss your specific needs and schedule.
Ideally, take this training before you’re first involved in derelict sites enforcement, not after you’re already facing an oral hearing. The skills and knowledge build confidence over time.
