An all-Party Oireachtas Committee published a report today proposing a package of measures to reform the property market by capping the price of development land.
The report includes a proposal to prevent land-hoarding by recommending a series of progressive charges for land which has been rezoned but where development is not being actively pursued by the owners.
The committee, chaired by Fianna Fáil's Mr Denis O'Donovan, also calls for levies or taxes on windfall gains arising from rezoning and says that communities should recoup the money.
In relation to rural housing the report said that "exceptional consideration" should be given to cases where an offspring wishes to build near parents living alone in the country.
People living and working in a rural area should be allowed to build appropriately designed houses subject to safeguarding the environment the report added.
Other recommendations of the report are:
- The abolition of ground rents
- Auctioneers and estate agents, who generate, supply and promote market information, should be regulated by either an independent body or the State
- Planning authorities should anticipate delays in bringing serviced and zoned land to the market and therefore ensure sufficient land is zoned.
- Local authorities should identify land in their developments reserved for social and affordable housing
- A new government body be set up as a national forum for the built environment
- A special division of the High Court be set up to deal with legal challenges to infrastructural and environmental planning
The Labour Party spokesman on the Environment, Mr Eamon Gilmore, welcomed the findings of the report but said there were no excuses for delays in implementing it. The issue has now been debated for long enough. The nature of the problem is evident and rational proposals for remedial action have been recommended by the Committee. There is no excuse for further delays, " Mr Gilmore said.
Mr Ciarán Cuffe of the Green Party also welcomed the report and called on the Government to implement its recommendations. "I sincerely hope that this report will not also gather dust," he said.
However Mr Pat O'Rourke, president of the Irish Creameries and Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) warned the Government his association would defend any attempt to undermine property rights of farmers. "Compulsory Purchase powers with a limit placed on what can be paid amounts to unconstitutional confiscation and is no more than institutionalised land grabbing. It will be resisted tooth-and-nail." he said.
