Watchdog says Louth most active county for compulsory purchase orders

National Oversight & Audit Commission says officials in Louth placed CPOs on 93 homes in the past five years for social housing

Louth county council has been the most active of all the country’s 31 councils in taking over vacant homes like the one pictured at prices as low as €5,000 each.

A watchdog has highlighted the high use of compulsory purchase orders to acquire vacant homes for social housing in the country’s smallest county.

Louth county council has been the most active of all the country’s 31 councils in taking over vacant homes at prices as low as €5,000 each.

The National Oversight & Audit Commission (NOAC), which supervises all councils, noted that council officials had placed compulsory purchase orders on 93 homes in the past ...