Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 770: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he is monitoring the level of development levies and contributions payable to local authorities; if his attention has been drawn to the fall in the amount being paid; if he is working with local authorities to tackle this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29748/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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My Department provides the necessary statutory and policy framework within which individual development contribution schemes are adopted by each local authority. However, the adoption of development contribution schemes is a reserved function of the locally elected members of each planning authority. It is a matter for the members to determine the level of contribution and the types of development to which they will apply. Each planning authority is also required to include details of contributions received and contributions owing to it, together with information on how the contributions have been expended, in the statutory annual report of the authority. As with all local charges, the invoicing and collection of development levy amounts is a matter for the local authority concerned to manage in the light of prevailing local circumstances and in accordance with normal accountancy procedures. Development contributions have been an important addition to the capital funding resources of local authorities but they are only one element and local authorities generate capital income from a variety of sources. My Department will continue to work closely with local authorities on this and other matters.