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Property developers owe E750m in levies

Friday, March 15 15:07:23

Over E750m in levies remains outstanding to local authorities from property developers around the country, it emerged today.

More than half of the total owed to the county, city and town councils, E439m, is due for payment this year, while the balance relates to previous years.

The largest amount, more than E131m, is owed to Fingal County Council, while Dublin City Council is owed more than E106m.

The figures are contained in a response from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to a parliamentary question submitted by Fine Gael TD for Wicklow, Simon Harris.

Developers should pay all outstanding development levies due to local authorities prior to sale according to the Construction Industry Federation (CIF).

"Those developers that owe money for houses they have built and sold need to pay the levies - it's as simple as that," said CIF Director General Tom Parlon. "Otherwise they are leaving the local authority out of pocket and that is impacting on the public. Where properties have been built and sold no development levies should be outstanding."

"We don't want to see situations arise like what happened in Wicklow when the local authority levied the outstanding development charges on the householders who had purchased the properties. No householder should be subjected to these charges. It is completely unfair on them. It also damages the local authorities and the building industry in general. Under no circumstances should the taxpayer have to carry the can for these outstanding levies."

"We need to have a process in place so that the development levies are paid before the sale of any unit is completed. This would prevent any problems like this arising and it would ensure that the local authorities and the householders are protected."