Developers owe €800m to local authorities

DEVELOPERS owed €800 million to cash-strapped local authorities in overdue levies at the end of 2008 – a jump of €668m on the amount due at the height of the boom.

The shortfall was compounded by separate accounts which show councils’ actual revenue from these levies in 2008 fell by €261m – from €631m.

The Department of the Environment said provisional accounts from local authorities show developers’ debts were 60% higher than early-year estimates.