Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 September 2014
250. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the estimated yield from a vacant site levy on unused urban land at a rate of 3% of market value; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36329/14]
View answerI intend to introduce a new Planning Bill later this year to facilitate the implementation of certain planning-related actions in the Government's Construction 2020 Strategy published in May 2014. Action 23 commits to examining the possibility of enabling local authorities, should they wish to do so, to adopt new measures to incentivise the use and development of vacant sites in urban areas. A final decision on this matter will be taken in the context of the forthcoming Planning Bill. Accordingly, it is not possible at this stage to provide an estimate of the yield that might be raised from such a measure which, as indicated, is still under consideration.
