Development levies to be scrapped for remainder of the year

Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien tells Fianna Fáil ard fheis he will scrap the development levy and water charges for all homes

Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien told Fianna Fáil's ard fheis: 'We will continue to support homebuilding, and we will continue to support first-time buyers and we make no apology for that whatsoever'. Picture: Damien Storan/PA

The Government’s development levy waiver is to be extended, saving thousands of euro on the cost of building a home, Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien has confirmed.

At the Fianna Fáil ard fheis, Mr O’Brien said the measure, which could save people building a home up to €20,000 in fees, will continue for the remainder of this year. He said: 

I'm bringing a memo to Cabinet this week that will scrap the development levy and water charges for all homes, including rural homes for the remainder of this year. 

Last April, Mr O’Brien announced that local authority fees attached to new developments would be waived for 12 months in a bid to kickstart more housing.

At the time, Mr O'Brien said the waiver of development levies could cut an average of €12,500 off the cost of constructing a home at a cost of €308m to the State.

Tánaiste and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin  at the 82nd Fianna Fáil ard fheis in Dublin. Picture: Conor McCabe

With the temporary waiver due to expire in the coming weeks, calls had been made on Mr O’Brien to extend the measure.

Taking aim at Sinn Féin, who he said want to end a number of supports, including the Help to Buy scheme, Mr O’Brien said: “We will continue to support homebuilding, and we will continue to support first time buyers and we make no apology for that whatsoever.”