Request to review planning levies being imposed in Mayo

THE easing of levies attached to planning permission for new homes has been raised with Mayo County Council.

Louisburgh-based Councillor Chris Maxwell highlighted two cases in his area where one young couple were levied €3,900 and another €5,936 in being granted planning.

There were in a rural area and did not have services such as public lighting or sewerage, and he wondered if the money could be ring-fenced for the road they are on as that would be the only benefit they would see from the levies paid.

Councillor Michael Kilcoyne said he had received a letter from a person in Belcarra who is being levied €5,000. Their only benefit was also the road.

Because of the times we are in, he wondered if the levies could be reviewed.

Something had to be done about it, he said - €4,000 to €5,000 just simply for permission to build a house.

The provision was an initiation by the executive and then a decision by the elected members, chief executive Kevin Kelly said, and they needed to look at the legisation to see if that had changed under 2024 legislation.

It is an age-old question across local authorities, he said.

Levies are not about what's outside your door. People live in a county and use facilities in towns and villages and different places, he pointed out.

Mr. Kelly also clarified that it is not possible to have money ring-fenced for a particular location.

At the moment, there is not that much development contributions being collected as the level of construction is limited, he added.

* Funded under the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme