Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 March 2015
542. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm a matter regarding the Guidelines on Development Levies issued in January 2013 to local authorities (details supplied). [10371/15]
View answerMy role, as Minister of State, is to provide the necessary statutory and policy framework within which individual development contribution schemes are adopted by each planning authority. The adoption of individual development contribution schemes is a reserved function of the locally elected members of each planning authority. While planning authorities, and An Bord Pleanála, are required to have regard to guidelines issued by my Department in the performance of their functions under the Planning Acts, it is a matter for the members to decide on the level of development contributions and the types of developments to which such contributions will apply.
My Department issued statutory guidelines on development contributions to planning authorities in January 2013 under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. With regard to the replacement and extension of an existing development as referred to in the Question, the Guidelines specifically suggest that planning authorities should include in their development contribution schemes a provision that charges should only be applied on net additional development. For example, in respect of a redevelopment totalling 200m2 of which 150m2 is replacing existing development, a development contribution charge should only be levied on the additional 50m2.
Section 28 requires that planning authorities must have regard to these guidelines in the performance of their functions under the Planning Acts. As indicated, the guidelines are intended to provide the necessary statutory and policy framework within which individual development contribution schemes are adopted by each planning authority.
