Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Boyhan for his input on the RZLT. As I noted earlier, this new tax is one of a range of measures in Housing for All, the Government's housing strategy, and is intended to prompt the development of housing. While the demand for housing is greatest in urban centres, there is also housing need in many other parts of the country, as we are all aware. The zoning of land by local authorities reflects the housing need in an area and only residentially zoned and serviced land will be subject to this tax. I reassure the Senator of the Government's continued commitment to ensuring that affected landowners will have an opportunity to engage with their local authority as part of the annual mapping process. This is the purpose of the deferral announced by the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael McGrath, in his budget speech. The Finance Bill is expected to be published shortly. It will set out in full the detail of the deferral announced by the Minister.