Development Levy Waiver and Uisce Éireann Connection Charge Refund Scheme

A welcome extension of the development levy waiver and the Uisce Éireann connection charge refund scheme have been signalled. Our Real Estate team discusses the details for home builders.

Darragh O’Brien TD, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, has indicated his intention to extend the development levy waiver and Uisce Éireann connection charge waiver to the end of this year.

Speaking at the IHBA House Building Summit 2024 on 16 April, Minister O’Brien said that he is going to extend the development levy waiver and the Uisce Éireann connection charge refund scheme to the end of this year.

We discussed the introduction of the temporary waivers in our previous article available online. These waivers for new residential developments commenced between 25 April 2023 and 24 April 2024 and completed by 31 December 2025 were due to end imminently. The scheme provides for a waiver of development contribution levies and a refund scheme for Uisce Éireann water and waste water connection charges for qualifying developments.

In another welcome move, Minister O’Brien has also signaled that he intends to extend the First Home Scheme and Help to Buy Scheme by another five years.

Full details of the extension of the schemes are yet to be published. It is understood that Minister O’Brien will be bringing the proposal to extend the development levy waiver scheme to Cabinet shortly.

Comment

Extension of the various schemes will be welcomed by house builders and home buyers alike. Once introduced, it will remain to be seen what impact the extension of the development contribution waiver and the water connection refund scheme will have on commencements of residential developments for the remainder of the year.

For more information, contact a member of our Real Estate team.

The content of this article is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute legal or other advice.