Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 348 and 349 together.

On 25 April 2023, the Government approved additional measures under the Housing for All Action Plan to incentivise the activation of increased housing supply and help reduce housing construction costs, including the introduction of temporary time-limited arrangements for the waiving of local authority “section 48” development contributions and the refunding of Uisce Éireann water and waste water connection charges.

The schemes apply for 1 year to all permitted residential development that commences on site between 25 April 2023 (the date of the Government Decision approving the measure) and 24 April 2024, and is completed not later than 31 December 2025. Under the scheme, local authorities are invited to submit a monthly claim form to the Department in respect of the cumulative development contribution waivers approved by them in the previous month. Unless an error is identified by my Department in the processing of the monthly claim forms - which will result in the local authority being requested to submit an amended claim - all claims submitted by local authorities are promptly paid.

The information requested in respect of the payments made to local authorities under the Development Contribution Waiver Scheme is provided in the table below. This table also includes detail of the claims on hand which will be paid shortly following their review.