Local Fine Gael Councillor, Tom Farrell, has welcomed the continuing supports for home builders as the Government announced a temporary waiver on all development fees.
“We are doing all we can to ramp up supply of housing and actively support those who are trying to get a roof over their heads. I see the waiver on development levies, that can be up over €12,000 on a single rural home build has now been scrapped by Westmeath County Council and will go some way to help with the costs of building a new home.
“Development levies can be a significant cost to a build so I am delighted that the Minister for Housing, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, has alleviated this cost from not only the housing developers, but also the individual home builder. I know this will have an impact on so many with planning permission ongoing at present and will make a huge difference on finances on what is such an expensive project, building your own home.
“This move is designed to stimulate and bring forward construction projects, both urban and rural and I welcome it wholeheartedly.
“One of the additional items Government announced recently is the increase in the grants which we give to individuals enabling them to bring vacant and derelict properties back into use at sums of €50,000 and €70,000, respectively.
"This is not giving money to developers - it is giving money to young and not-so-young people to bring vacant properties back into use so they can live in them or, in some cases, rent the property," Cllr Farrell stated.
