Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 May 2023
205. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if any concessions will be made for builders of one-off homes who submitted their commencement notices during Covid but have been unable to commence works until this year (details supplied). [22268/23]
View answer217. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider extending the time limit on the waiver announced for development contributions to include houses which commenced earlier in 2023; to assist a greater number of people who have commenced building despite very high costs; if an exception could be considered on a case-by-case basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22288/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 205 and 217 together.
On 25 April 2023, the Government approved additional measures under the Housing for All Action Plan to incentivise the activation of increased housing supply and help reduce housing construction costs, including the introduction of temporary time-limited arrangements for the waiving of local authority “section 48” development contributions and the refunding of Uisce Éireann water and waste water connection charges.
These temporary time-limited arrangements apply for 1 year to all permitted residential development –
• that commences on site between 25 April 2023 and 24 April 2024, and
• is completed not later than 31 December 2025.
My Department is currently working on the detailed arrangements in relation to the operation and administration of the development contribution waiver scheme and the Uisce Éireann connection charge refund scheme.
These temporary arrangements are being applied irrespective of the date of planning permission for the residential development. In line with the Government decision, the arrangements cannot be applied retrospectively in respect of housing development that had already commenced prior to 25 April 2023.
