Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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553. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will extend the temporary waiver on development contributions payable to local authorities for those building homes in 2025; if he has assessed the impact that these contributions have on individuals trying to commence home construction, particularly in rural areas; and if he will consider further measures to alleviate financial barriers for those seeking to build their own homes. [7983/25]

James Browne (Wexford, 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 Government recognised that further measures needed to be urgently put in place to help address cost and viability with a view to incentivising the activation of a pipeline of new commencements, and assisting in the delivery of supply as quickly as possible. The waiver scheme applied to all permitted residential development including multiunit developments, self-build houses and one off rural houses, student accommodation and sheltered housing.

The schemes initially applied for one year to all permitted residential development that commenced on site between 25 April 2023 (the date of the Government Decision approving the measure) and 24 April 2024, and that are completed not later than 31 December 2025. On 23 April 2024, the Government approved an extension for the waiving of local authority “section 48” 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.

In April 2024, the final date for the completion of development works on qualifying houses under the schemes was extended from 31 December 2025 to 31 December 2026.

There are currently no plans to extend the waiver scheme.