Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 168: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on whether the scope of development levies should be widened to allow developers provide for facilities such as education and healthcare for new communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30964/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Under Section 48 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, planning authorities may levy development contributions in respect of public infrastructure and facilities provided by, or on behalf of the local authority that benefit development in the area, based on a scheme of contributions adopted for the area. Subject to this, the types of public infrastructure that can be funded by a development contribution scheme are further specified as the acquisition of land, the provision of open spaces, recreational and community facilities and amenities and landscaping works, the provision of roads, car parks, car parking places, sewers, waste water and water treatment facilities, drains and watermains, the provision of bus corridors and lanes, bus interchanges facilities (car parks for those facilities), infrastructure to facilitate public transport, cycle and pedestrian facilities, and traffic calming measures, the refurbishment, upgrading, enlargement or replacement of roads, car parks, car parking places, sewers, waste water and water facilities, drains or water mains, and ancillary matters.

As the provision of educational and healthcare facilities is not at present assigned to local authorities it is not currently possible, under the Planning and Development Act 2000, to apply development contributions towards the cost of such facilities. This issue is being considered by the Interdepartmental Committee, which I established in December 2005 to look at issues raised by different interests in relation to development contributions schemes. I will consider the report of the Committee in deciding in the first instance whether any additional guidance should be issued to planning authorities, in reviewing their schemes. In considering the wider issue of a possible expansion in the types of infrastructure for which development contributions can be used, it will be important that any increase in development contributions charges should not have a detrimental effect on the affordability of new housing.