Development Contributuions

What is a Development Contribution?

The Planning Authority may when granting a planning permission under Section 34 of the Act, include conditions requiring the payment of a contribution.

This contribution is in respect of public infrastructure and facilities benefiting development in the area of the planning authority and that is provided, or that is intended will be provided, by or on behalf of the local authority (regardless of other sources of funding for the infrastructure and facilities)

Where permission is granted subject to the provision of a bond by the developers, the Planning Department will require satisfactory evidence of the existence of such a bond before approving the commencement of development.

Before the development is commenced the developer shall lodge with the Planning Authority a Bond in an amount to be stipulated by the Planning Authority, coupled with an agreement to empower the Local Authority to apply such security or part thereof to the satisfactory completion of any part of the development. The Bond shall be from an approved Financial Institution as may be acceptable to the Planning Authority to secure the provision and satisfactory completion and maintenance of roads, footpaths, water supply, septic tank and drainage required in connection with the proposed development. The Bond shall remain in place for a period of 5 years from the date of grant of permission or until such time as the development has been completed to the satisfaction of the Planning Authority in accordance with the conditions of the planning permission granted.

Sub-section (1) of Section 48 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended) enables a planning authority, when granting a planning permission under Section 34 of the Act, to include conditions requiring the payment of a contribution. This contribution is in respect of public infrastructure and facilities benefiting development in the area of the planning authority and that is provided, or that is intended will be provided, by or on behalf of the local authority (regardless of other sources of funding for the infrastructure and facilities). Section 48 also requires that the basis for the determination of a contribution shall be set out in a development contribution scheme made under the section. A scheme may make provision for payment of different contributions in respect of different classes or descriptions of development and due to decreases/increases in prices, shall allow for annual updates during the life of the scheme.

Development Contribution Scheme 2023 - 2027

In accordance with the provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), Longford County Council has adopted a revised Development Contribution Scheme for the period from 1st June 2023 – 31st December 2027. The proposed Draft Development Contribution Scheme was presented to Members of Longford County Council at the Monthly Meeting held on the 12th April 2023 and following a resolution and a vote it was agreed to adopt the scheme. The Development Contribution Scheme 2023-2023 shall apply to all relevant planning permissions under Section 34 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) received after the 1st June 2023. The scheme provides for the levying of development contributions in respect of public infrastructure and facilities benefiting development in the area of the Planning Authority.

View the Development Contribution Scheme

Development Contribution Scheme 2023 - 2027

Longford County Council Indexation amendment for 2026 - Applicable from 26 January 2026

Development Contribution Indexation 2026

Development Contribution Scheme Purpose

Section 48 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), enables Planning Authorities when granting permission to include conditions requiring the payment of a contribution in respect of public infrastructure and facilities benefiting development in the area of the Planning Authority and that is provided, or that it is intended will be provided, by or on behalf of a Local Authority (regardless of other sources of funding).

 ‘Public infrastructure and facilities’ includes:-

  1. a) The acquisition of land;
  2. b) The provision of open spaces, recreational and community facilities and amenities and landscaping works;
  3. c) The provision of roads, car parks, car parking places, surface water drainage infrastructure and flood relief work;
  4. d) The provision of bus corridors and lanes, bus interchange facilities (including car parks for these facilities) infrastructure to facilitate public transport, cycle and pedestrian facilities, and traffic calming measures;
  5. e) The refurbishment, upgrading, enlargement or replacement of roads, car parks, car parking places;
  6. f) Surface Water including the refurbishment, upgrading, enlargement or the replacement of drains;
  7. g) The provision of high-capacity telecommunications infrastructure, such as broadband;
  8. h) The provision of school sites and other social and community facilities, and;
  9. i) Any matters ancillary to the above.

 The primary objectives of the Development Contribution Scheme are to:

  • Provide a mechanism by which developers and others can contribute to the cost of providing public infrastructure and facilities that benefit development in their area.
  • Increase flexibility for Local Authorities in relation to the range of projects that could be funded from this source, by allowing Authorities to fund public infrastructure provision without necessarily tying it to a specific development.
  • Introduce greater transparency into the way in which development contributions are levied and applied (so that developers would be able to establish in advance what levy should apply to them).
  • Ensure that Local Authorities can manage and maintain growth by providing key infrastructure to support local economies.