asked the Minister for the Environment his attitude towards any additional service charges or costs being imposed by local authorities on private sector developers, in view of the seriously depressed state of the construction industry; and if he will issue an instruction to local authorities preventing them from further inhibiting such development.
Written Answers. - Local Authority Charges.
84.
The only charges or costs of the type referred to by the Deputy over which I have control are planning fees which have not been increased since 1985. The levying of other charges, such as for building by law-approval, development levies, etc. is a matter for local authorities themselves and I have no power to issue instructions along the lines suggested by the Deputy.