Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Construction 2020 strategy makes it clear that the viability and affordability of housing is an issue in this country. The provisions in this section of the Bill would permit reductions in development charges on existing planning permissions that have yet to be activated. This section also provides that the new lower development contribution scheme shall apply to any unsold housing units in a development. This change, together with other changes to the development contribution provisions in section 30 of the Bill, should help to reduce costs for developers and make developments more economically viable. It is hoped that it will cause developments to be completed sooner and at a lower cost than might otherwise have been the case. Obviously, cost is a critical issue in improving the supply of affordable and sustainable housing. The effect of the amendments proposed by Senator Cullinane would be to remove the provision that will make reduced contributions payable where a development has commenced but contains unsold houses. The purpose of the drafting of section 29, which includes this provision, was to ensure equitable treatment for permitted housing developments that have yet to commence and for developments that are complete but have unsold housing units. I cannot accept any amendment that would remove the inclusion of such housing in such an eventuality.