Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 17 Feb 1998

Vol. 487 No. 3

Written Answers. - Development Charges.

Dick Roche

Question:

211 Mr. Roche asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Wicklow County Council, and urban councils within the county, are currently levying development charges, in some cases exceeding £6,000, on individual planning applications, including applications for private houses on infill sites; that these charges are operating as a disincentive to young couples who wish to build their own houses on serviced land already owned by their families; and if he will discourage local authorities from levying charges as a means of bringing resources into their accounts by limiting their charges to the economic costs of site servicing. [3915/98]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

Section 26(1) of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963, empowers planning authorities to attach conditions to planning permissions while section 26(2) contains specific provisions for conditions requiring contributions towards expenditure already incurred, or to be incurred, by the planning authority in respect of works which have facilitated, or will facilitate, the proposed development.

Decisions on the amount of contributions required as a condition of planning permission are matters for the relevant planning authority in the first instance within the terms of section 26(2). Such conditions can be appealed to An Bord Pleanála, which can, where it considers it appropriate, give to the planning authority directions relating to the attachment, amendment or removal of conditions to which the appeal relates, or of other conditions. The issue of development contributions is being examined as part of the comprehensive review of planning legislation in which I am engaged.