Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

Development fees charged to the developer by planning authorities include charges for connecting to both the drinking water supply and public sewers. Those fees were part of the purchase price paid by the purchaser and where a connection to a public water supply or a public sewer is not possible, the deductions are made by the authorities on the development levies. They take account of that.

I do not accept the suggestion that the proposed fee of up to €50 is some form of stealth tax. This is to cover the administrative charge and the costs of compliance. We do not expect all taxpayers in the country to do everything out of general taxation. I can confirm-----

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