House builders rush to dodge levies

LOCAL authorities across the country are being swamped with planning applications by house builders as they try to avoid the cost of levies to be put on homes in the New Year.

The rush, mainly by those building one-off homes, is sparked by councils adopting the draft Development Contribution Scheme (DCS) due to be brought into force next March.

In the draft schemes, councils are proposing to place levies of up to €12,000 on some new homes, which will apply on developments that secure planning permission after March 10, 2004.