Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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397.To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will amend the waiver scheme for developments where the planning is for retention and completion and where utility connection charges apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24983/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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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 applied for 1 year initially to all permitted residential development that commenced on site between 25 April 2023 and 24 April 2024, and is completed not later than 31 December 2025.

On 23 April 2024, the Government approved an extension for the waiving of the development contributions in respect of residential development commenced not later than 31 December 2024 and the refunding of Uisce Éireann water and waste water connection charges in respect of residential development commenced not later than 30 September 2024. The date for the completion of development works on qualifying houses under the schemes was extended from 31 December 2025 to 31 December 2026.

My Department’s Circular Letter PL 02/2024 refers. The Department’s earlier Circular Letter PL 08/2023 and the associated supplementary Guidance Note on the detailed operational arrangements in relation to the waiver and refund schemes still apply, and are available at the following link - www.gov.ie/en/circular/9b113-circular-pl-082023-temporary-time-limited-waiver-in-respect-of-development-contributions-operational-guidance-for-local-authorities/.

The principal parameters of the scheme remain as notified by way of this Circular and associated guidance document. It is not proposed to extend the terms of the scheme beyond those as approved by the Government in its decision of 25 April 2023.