Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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533. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of local authorities applying development contributions for telecommunications infrastructure as of November 2017. [50997/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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Development contributions applied by local authorities are levied on the basis of a development contribution scheme adopted by the elected members, which sets out how contributions are to be applied in respect of developments in their respective functional areas. The level of contribution, and the types of development to which development contributions should apply, including any exemptions from charging in specific circumstances if that is deemed appropriate, are therefore determined at local authority level, in accordance with the powers vested in elected members in this regard.

The majority of development contribution schemes adopted by local authorities currently provide for charges in respect of telecommunications infrastructure development within their functional areas. I understand that, as of November 2017, the development contribution schemes of 17 local authorities include a specific charge for telecommunications infrastructure development. 13 local authorities do not include a specific charge for telecommunications infrastructure in their schemes. 1 local authority includes a specific charge for telecommunication infrastructure in their current scheme; however the amount of contribution charged has in practice since been revised to zero.

For the purpose of supporting and incentivising economic development, including the roll-out of broadband infrastructure, my Department issued statutory guidelines to planning authorities in January 2013 under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act on the implementation of development contribution schemes, which included a requirement that local authorities include a specific waiver for broadband infrastructure (masts and antennae) in their schemes. Most development contribution schemes adopted by planning authorities currently provide for such waivers. In this regard, 23 local authorities have adopted schemes which include a full exemption. Five local authorities do not specify a waiver for such infrastructure in their current scheme; however, as there is no provision included in their current schemes to charge for telecommunications infrastructure generally, the practice adopted is not to do so.  My Department has been engaging with the remaining three local authorities regarding the incorporation of explicit waivers in their schemes, one of which, as mentioned above, has in any event revised the development contribution charged for telecommunications infrastructure generally under their current scheme to zero.