Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

I am asking about one-off homes for self-builders who are taking on mortgages to build their homes. Let us call a spade a spade: they are contributing to the ultimate completion figures this Government wants to see. We want more units to be delivered. Self-builders make up almost 10% of those numbers on the basis of the commencement figures from last year.

The development levy waiver was a huge success. There were 69,000 commencements in 2024, which is absolutely incredible. Those are the type of numbers we need every year. I am very conscious, however, that the money from the development contribution goes to the councils and self-builders get nothing in return. They do not get footpaths, lighting or investment in their localities. It is unfair on councillors and local authorities that it goes into a pot and gets spent with the rest of the money as opposed to being ring-fenced for what it is for. Even the development contributions relating to housing estates are not ring-fenced for the delivery of footpaths and lighting in towns and villages. There needs to be a wider conversation in this regard.

If possible, I ask for the Minister of State to bring my request to consider the extension of the development levy waiver for one-off homes back to the Minister, Deputy Browne. This move would facilitate young people who are starting out on their journey of home ownership and who are trying to self-build. It would ensure they could do that without an overburdening cost, particularly when they are contributing to our completion figures.

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