PREPARATION OF CLARE’S upcoming County Development Plan 2023 – 2029 has been hit with a fresh hurdle with Department officials pushing for the introduction of a new tax for residential zoned land.
Public consultation events have begun in different parts of Clare with the county’s citizens encouraged to take an active involvement so that they are fully aware of the impact the document will have on their lives and area.
A total of ten volumes are included in the County Development Plan. This includes a written statement, maps, written statements for each Municipal District, settlement plans, a record of protected structures, a Strategic Integrated Framework Plan (SIFP) for the Shannon Estuary plus strategies for renewable energy, wind energy, retail and housing in the county.
Creation of 4,500 housing units has been set as a target for the lifetime of the Development Plan. Lands identified for residential zoning must be capable of having the services necessary such as wastewater infrastructure which presently rules out two thirds of the towns and villages of Co Clare.
Briefing members of the Rural Development Strategic Policy Committee (SPC), acting senior planner of Clare County Council, Helen Quinn revealed that a new aspect of the plan was the addition of a residential zoned land tax which will apply to all lands zoned residential or lands that can accommodate residential use. The tax will become operational from February 1st 2024 with Revenue tasked with its collection
Further guidance is to be issued from the Department of Local Government to local authority officials regarding the new tax. “Our guidance so far is anywhere where development could be facilitated is subject to the tax,” Ms Quinn stated.
“This is going to be trouble,” Cllr Joe Killeen (FF) predicted. He questioned how the introduction of a land tax could arise in the middle of public consultation for the County Development Plan. “Do we ignore it and go back to square one, who is exactly going to be taxed, Revenue won’t be long sending out letters to people whose land is to be zoned”.
Concern was also expressed by Cllr Pat Burke (FG) who questioned when Revenue would decide when enough money had been paid. “Will it be a case of land tax comes in on zoned land, what if a genuine landowner wants to see land developed, he or she puts a for sale sign up in a rural village but nobody comes along, it’s like the pub closing down and for sale sign going up to avoid rates”.
Chair of the SPC, Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) blamed “outside interference” for impacting on the progress of the Plan. He acknowledged that Council officials hadn’t been furnished with the information as of yet on its impact. “All policies implemented at a national level are now impacting us at a local level, they need to be taken into account”.
Quinn conceded that there could be “significant work” ahead for the Council as a result of the Land Tax but said the directive was coming from Central Government.
