Councillor Seamus Ó Domhnaill has welcomed Donegal County Council’s decision to hold a meeting to look positively on reducing Development Charges for one-off houses in Donegal following a motion he succeeded in having passed at Monday’s council meeting.
Speaking after the meeting Cllr. Ó Domhnaill said he was delighted that his fellow councillors seen fit to fully support his motion calling on the Council to reduce Development Charges for individuals wishing to build Houses in Donegal.
“In essence with it becoming increasingly more difficult to access money from the Banks by way of mortgages Individuals are having to build Houses bit by bit now whenever money can be gathered to allow for another segment of the construction to proceed, but having to pay an amount of €6,500 to the Council before the commencement of Construction was meaning that people simply were not starting to build at all.”
The Current Policy which is in place with Donegal County Council levies a charge of up to €6,569 on applicants who are successful in obtaining Planning Permission.
Cllr. Ó Domhnaill maintains that this large amount of money which is payable to the Council prior to building commencing is in effect prohibiting Young People form deciding to build at all.
While speaking on his motion at Mondays meeting Ó Domhnaill explained; “Given the fact that there now is a necessity on Home owners to pay a property Tax the Development Charge which is supposed to go towards services is basically double taxation, this on top of the Architect cost and application fee to obtain planning permission is simply placing too much of a burden upon those who wish to build houses for their own use in their own communities.”
He continued “We as a council should be supporting those who wish to make roots in their own communities instead of placing financial obstacles which many can simply not overcome.”
He said he is aware first hand of individuals who obtained Planning Permission and had intended to stage build a modest home for their family.
“Unfortunately they were unable to pay the Development Charge and moved oversees in an attempt to sae money, when there they bought a house and have set up home oversees and are unlikely to return. I believe that if the Charge was lower they would have built at home by way of a stage build and would have set up Home in Donegal.”
It has been agreed that Donegal County Council will hold a workshop in early June to discuss the lowering of the development charges for people building family homes in Donegal.
Cllr. Ó Domhnaill has stated that he expects the charge to be “dramatically reduced and that this can only be positive to the Donegal Economy as more Houses will be built by our local Community, Young People will hopefully find it easier to build and stay at home and the extra revenue generated in the Construction will benefit the local economy.
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