Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

541. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm that the term, "small scale development", as used in the Guidelines on Development Levies issued in January 2013 to local authorities includes authorised residential extensions. [10365/15]

Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In January 2013, my Department issued statutory guidelines to planning authorities in relation to development contributions. 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 development, the guidelines state that “authorities should also ensure that their schemes distinguish proportionately between large and small-scale.” However, the use of the term “small scale development” in the guidelines is specific to the construction of off-grid renewable energy development and does not encompass the type of small scale development referred to in the Question.

Under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act, planning authorities and An Bord Pleanala are required to have regard to these guidelines in the performance of their functions. However, it is ultimately a matter for the elected members to decide on the level of development contributions and the types of developments to which such contributions will apply.

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

542. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm a matter regarding the Guidelines on Development Levies issued in January 2013 to local authorities (details supplied). [10371/15]

Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My role, as Minister, is to provide the necessary statutory and policy framework within which individual development contribution schemes are adopted by each planning authority. The adoption of individual development contribution schemes is a reserved function of the locally elected members of each planning authority. While planning authorities, and An Bord Pleanála, are required to have regard to guidelines issued by my Department in the performance of their functions under the Planning Acts, it is a matter for the members to decide on the level of development contributions and the types of developments to which such contributions will apply.

My Department issued statutory guidelines on development contributions to planning authorities in January 2013 under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. With regard to the replacement and extension of an existing development as referred to in the Question, the Guidelines specifically suggest that planning authorities should include in their development contribution schemes a provision that charges should only be applied on net additional development. For example, in respect of a redevelopment totalling 200m²of which 150m²is replacing existing development, a development contribution charge should only be levied on the additional 50m².

Section 28 requires that planning authorities must have regard to these guidelines in the performance of their functions under the Planning Acts. As indicated, the guidelines are intended to provide the necessary statutory and policy framework within which individual development contribution schemes are adopted by each planning authority.