Housing Policy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 June 2023

Tuesday, 13 June 2023

Questions (769)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

769. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will extend the temporary time-limited waiver in respect of development contribution fees for self-build homes in circumstances where commencement of construction has already been under way outside of the period between 25 April 2023 and 24 April 2024 and not yet completed, and where the same increase in housing materials and labour costs are still incurred and being exacerbated by the ongoing cost-of-living crisis for self-build developers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28210/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)

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. It is not proposed to extend the timeframe in relation to the operation of the measure beyond that which has been approved by the Government in its Decision of 25 April last.