|
The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
has launched a public consultation on proposed revisions to
the schedule of planning fees under the Planning and Development
Act 2000.
This is an important step in the commitment to modernising
and resourcing the planning system.
The current fee structure was set in 2001 and became effective
in early 2002 when rates, previously fixed in 1998, were converted
into euros. None of the fees payable by applicants for planning
permission has increased in the intervening period.
In July 2007, the Department initiated a review of planning
fees with a view to establishing, for a number of classes
of application, if a shortfall existed between the fees level
and the administration costs of processing an application
- and, if they did exist, the extent of these gaps. The survey
findings form the basis of the consultation document, which
sets out the rationale for reviewing and updating fees for
planning applications for various classes of development and
land use and the type of service improvements that members
of the public might expect in return for any fee increases.
The survey findings confirm that significant gaps exist between
the planning fees charged and the corresponding processing
costs across a range of development types and that to ensure
the delivery of a high quality planning service into the future,
fees would need to be revised.
Participants are being invited to comment on the fees structure,
the range of service improvements proposed and also to suggest
any alternative approaches to those set out in the consultation
document.
The consultation paper is available from the Department's
website - Click
Here - or from Planning Section, Department of the
Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Custom House,
Dublin 1 - Tel: 01-888 2895/2821, Email: [email protected]
The closing date for receipt of submissions is Monday
5 May 2008.
|
