Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 92: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the date on which he will introduce legislation to amend practices regarding developer contributions to ensure that facilities such as schools and transport infrastructure that the public are entitled to are provided for. [14500/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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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 by the elected members of the authority. 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 water mains,

the provision of bus corridors and lanes, bus interchange 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.

Section 49 of the Act provides for the drawing up of a supplementary development contribution scheme in order to facilitate a particular public infrastructure service or project which is provided by a local authority or a private developer and which will directly benefit the development on which the levy is imposed. The types of infrastructure which may be funded by this means include the provision of rail, light rail or other public transport infrastructure, particular new roads or particular water or waste water infrastructure. The assignment of responsibility for developing areas to Minister of State Batt O'Keeffe is aimed at better positioning Government at both central and local level to co-ordinate infrastructure development in fast-growing strategic locations throughout the country. My Department is currently undertaking an analysis of the infrastructure requirements in these locations. It is my intention following this analysis to consider the need for any necessary legislative and policy changes to underpin this work, including in the area of development contributions.