James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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364. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will review the development contribution scheme in county towns that do not have gateway or hub status to make it more attractive for business to locate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33136/13]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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As Minister my role is to provide the necessary statutory and policy framework within which individual development contribution schemes are adopted by each local authority. The adoption of these 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. Copies of individual schemes are available for consultation on the local authorities' websites. My Department recently issued updated guidance for local authorities on the issue of development contributions which recommends, inter alia, that development contribution schemes facilitate job creation through targeted support for specific development types. As part of the new guidance, planning authorities are asked to consider whether there are any measures open to them to support new or existing enterprises in their areas by, for example, reduced development contribution rates, deferral of payments, etc.

The guidelines have been issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 - 2012. This means that planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála are required to have regard to them in performance of their functions under the Planning Acts.