Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that the Question refers to the years 2020, 2021, and 2022. Development contribution charges to be applied on developers are set at the planning permission stage but are not collectable by the relevant local authority until after the development work commences. Commencement notices are issued by the developer to the local authority and these generally trigger the raising of the charge. The normal practice is for the developer to issue a commencement notice for all units in the development at the construction start date which could mean that the full development charges are due immediately. Alternatively, a phased payment plan may be agreed between the planning authority and the developer and in other cases, commencement notices are issued for blocks of units on a piecemeal basis.

In order to avoid inconsistencies in recognising income and the raising of invoices when a commencement notice is received, contributions collectable within the next 12 months are usually treated as income by the relevant local authority and a short-term debtor is raised. Income from development contributions not due to be paid within the next 12 months is deferred and is not separately disclosed in the Annual Financial Statement (AFS).

The most recent audited data available in respect of development contributions is in respect of the financial year ending 31 December 2021.

In essence, the development contribution short term debtor figure for 2020 and 2021 in the table below indicates the aggregate amount of development contributions payable to local authorities that had invoices issued in 2021 and previous years and where payment remains outstanding.