Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 May 2024
280. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the development charge waiver and water charge waiver can be extended to cover cases where a house had commenced but planning had expired and a new planning permission was then granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20509/24]
View answerOn 25 April 2023, the Government approved additional measures under the Housing for All Action Plan to incentivise the activation of increased housing supply and help reduce housing construction costs, including the introduction of temporary time-limited arrangements for the waiving of local authority “section 48” development contributions and the refunding of Uisce Éireann water and waste water connection charges.
The schemes originally applied for 1 year to all permitted residential development that commenced on site between 25 April 2023 (the date of the Government Decision approving the measure) and 24 April 2024, and is completed not later than 31 December 2025. On 23 April 2024, the Government approved an extension for the waiving of local authority “section 48” development contributions in respect of residential development commenced up to 31 December 2024 and the refunding of Uisce Éireann water and waste water connection charges in respect of residential development commenced up to 30 September 2024.
The date for the completion of development works on qualifying houses under the schemes has been extended from 31 December 2025 to 31 December 2026.
These temporary arrangements are being applied irrespective of the date of planning permission for the residential development. In line with the Government decision, the arrangements cannot be applied retrospectively in respect of housing development that had already commenced prior to 25 April 2023 irrespective of the circumstances in any individual cases.
