Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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165. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if local authority development contribution schemes for residential extensions should make provision, that is exemption, for that area of the house that has been demolished before construction of the extension, for example in a development totalling 200 sq. m, of which 50 sq. m are existing development, contributions should only be levied on the additional 150 sq. m. [5090/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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The charging of development contributions is intended to allow local authorities to recoup some of the costs to public funds of servicing land for private development. Without such contributions, this servicing would not proceed or the full cost would have to be borne by the taxpayer. Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, income from development levies must be ring-fenced to pay for facilities servicing new development, for example, for roads, footpaths, public lighting and open spaces. Development contributions are levied by planning authorities on the basis of a development contribution scheme approved by the elected members which sets out how contributions are to be applied in their respective functional areas. The level of contribution, and the types of development to which development contributions should apply, is therefore determined at local authority level in accordance with the powers vested in elected members in this connection.

My Department issued statutory guidelines on development contributions to all planning authorities in January 2013. These guidelines emphasise the importance of promoting development through the application, where feasible, of reduced development contributions to facilitate development and promote economic activity and job creation in local areas. With regard to small-scale redevelopment-type projects, the guidelines specifically require that planning authorities should include in their development contribution schemes provision that charges should only be applied on net additional development e.g. in respect of a redevelopment totalling 200 m ₂ of which 150 m ₂ is replacing existing development, a development contribution charge should only be levied on the additional 50 m ₂ .

As Minister, I have a statutory role as consultee in the preparation of development contribution schemes under section 48 of the Planning Act. My Department monitors the implementation of these guidelines, including the waiver mentioned above. Where a proposed development contribution scheme of a planning authority is not in accordance with the guidelines, my Department has issued observations to the relevant planning authority and, under the terms of section 48(7) of the Act, the elected members are obliged to have regard to my recommendations in finalising their development contribution scheme.