A Cork City councillor has brought forward a motion calling for an urgent and comprehensive review of dereliction across the city, with particular focus on a row of empty properties on North Main Street.

At tonight’s Cork City Council meeting, Cllr Honore Kamegni presented a motion requesting a detailed report from Cork City Council on the extent of dereliction in each ward. The report would include the number of properties currently on the Derelict Sites Register, an estimate of how complete the register is, and the Council’s plans to complete it.

The motion also seeks a clear outline of the actions taken on each listed property, including whether the Council has engaged with the owner, applied the derelict sites levy, initiated compulsory purchase, or taken steps to restore and return the property to active use.

Cllr Kamegni is asking for Cork’s efforts to be compared with those of Limerick City and County Council and Waterford City and County Council, in order to identify best practices and highlight areas where Cork can improve its approach.

The motion calls for focused intervention on the prominent row of derelict properties on North Main Street, running from Castle Street to Paradise Place, which Cllr Kamegni described as a blight on the city centre.

Cllr Kamegni said:

“Cork cannot afford to let dereliction hollow out our communities. I urge Cork City Council to urgently review the staffing, strategy, and resources dedicated to tackling vacancies and dereliction. A stronger, more coordinated response is essential to revitalise our neighbourhoods and unlock the full potential of our city.”

With housing in high demand and valuable urban space lying empty, Cllr Kamegni believes Cork city must take bold and proactive steps to regenerate neglected sites and bring life back to its streets.