Louth Senator calls for further waiver of Development Levies
The Temporary Development Contribution Waiver Scheme is due to end in a month's time
Louth based Senator Erin McGreehan has called for the Government to extend the Waiver Scheme for Development Levies.
The Temporary Development Contribution Waiver Scheme applied for one 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. Due to cease for new properties in a months’ time, Senator McGreehan believes that “extending the Waiver Scheme for Development Levies, is necessary and the Department should announce the extension soon”.
In Louth it was agreed last year to increase the contribution to €11,646 per housing unit and a commercial rate of €90 per square metre towards public infrastructure.
Louth Chief Executive Joan Martin said at the time that the Council's levy scheme had been artificially low as a result for a number of years and what they were now doing was brining it into line with what she thought was the average around the country.
At the time of the decision Senator McGreehan hit out at the decision by Louth County Council saying it was too large and was prohibitive for many people and that if the waiver is not extended there would be an extra €11,646 cost on each housing unit in Louth.
McGreehan raised this issue in the Seanad last week, asking that the waiver scheme be extended beyond 24th April.
Senator McGreehan said that “the extension of this waiver scheme would be very welcome, it would come at a crucial time when the construction sector is facing various challenges, including rising costs.”
The Fianna Fáil senator added, “by allowing builders to forgo development levies, the government could support development of multiple builds and one-off rural housing.”