Vol. 560 No. 3
147 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if each local authority attaches development charges to their planning applications; if not, the authorities which do not incur such a charge; his views on whether this matter should be regularised throughout the country to ensure equity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2411/03]
Section 48 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provides that a planning authority may, when granting a planning permission, include conditions for requiring the payment of a contribution in respect of public infrastructure and facilities benefiting development in the area of the planning authority and that is provided, or that it is intended will be provided, by or on behalf of a local authority. The Act provides that the basis for the determination of development contributions should be set out in a development contribution scheme which is made by the elected members following a public consultation process.
Planning statistics collated and published by my Department show that each city and country planning authority levies development contributions on proposed developments in their area. Under long standing-policy and practice, local authorities have enjoyed discretion to adapt development contributions flexibly to local circumstances. This position has been confirmed by the Oireachtas in the recent review of planning legislation and there is no proposal to change it.
