Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 584: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the plans in place or the contingency funds being made available to local authorities in view of the fact that development levies are in sharp decline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19758/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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As Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government I have overall responsibility for the legislative and policy framework governing development contribution schemes. Under sections 48 and 49 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. The money collected in development levies is used to fund public infrastructure servicing new development, for example, roads, water and waste water services, community and other facilities.

Development contribution schemes are adopted by the members of the local authority following a public consultation process. It is a matter for the elected members of the planning authority to determine the level of contribution and the types of infrastructure to which it will apply the contributions in its own functional area having regard to the governing legislative and policy framework. The operation of the development contributions system will be kept under review by my Department.