Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 September 2023
438. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a rebate will be made available to people who paid development contributions on planning permission prior to April 2023 and on water connections for new builds prior to April 2023. [39847/23]
View answerOn 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 issued Circular Letter PL 08/2023 on 21 July 2023 and the associated supplementary Guidance Note on the detailed operational arrangements in relation to the development contribution waiver scheme and the Uisce Éireann connection charge refund scheme. The Circular Letter and Guidance Note are available at the following link - www.gov.ie/en/circular/9b113-circular-pl-082023-temporary-time-limited-waiver-in-respect-of-development-contributions-operational-guidance-for-local-authorities/.
These temporary arrangements are being applied irrespective of the date of planning permission for the residential development. It is not proposed to extend the terms or timeline of the scheme beyond those as approved by the Government in its Decision of 25 April last i.e. that houses must be commenced between 25 April 2023 and 24 April 2024, and be completed by 31 December 2025 in order to qualify for the waiver.
