Extension of development fee waiver

Members of Tipperary Co Council have asked the council to write to the minister again over extending the waiver of development fees for new residential development.

The temporary waiver is due to expire this month and the council was informed last February that it would not be extended. But at this week's meeting, several councillors demanded that the waiver be extended by another 12 months in order to encourage development.

Cllr Michael O'Meara believed that getting rid of the scheme would equate to "political suicide". People were saving €10,000 or €15,000 in some cases and the scheme would incentivise development in rural areas. Cllrs John Carroll, Michael Fitzgerald and Ger Darcy also emphasised the benefits of the scheme and suggested that the council should write to other local authorities about it.

Director of Services Sharon Kennedy agreed to do this but said the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has indicated no intention of reviewing the completion date for the waiver.