Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 20 Nov 1996

Vol. 471 No. 7

Written Answers. - Local Authority Charges.

Noel Treacy

Ceist:

212 Mr. N. Treacy asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the exorbitant charges being imposed by local authorities throughout the country; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that these charges are making it prohibitive for young people to get mortgages and build houses in certain cases; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that these charges are making it difficult for young people to live in rural Ireland; if he will review this situation and direct the relevant authorities to reduce their development charges accordingly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21683/96]

Section 26(1) of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963, empowers planning authorities to attach conditions to planning permissions while section 26 (2) contains specific provisions for conditions requiring contributions towards expenditure already incurred, or to be incurred, by the planning authority in respect of works which have facilitated, or will facilitate, the proposed development.

Decisions on the attachment to planning permissions of contribution conditions, and on the contributions required, are matters for the relevant planning authority in the first instance. Such conditions can be appealed to An Bord Pleanála, which can, where it considers it appropriate, give to the planning authority directions relating to the attachment, amendment or removal of conditions to which the appeal relates, or of other conditions.
I have no power to give directions to planning authorities in relation to the level of contributions required by planning permission.
Barr
Roinn