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Agricultural land being actively farmed before zoning by a local authority will not be subject to the 7% vacant site levy, the Government has clarified.
Last Wednesday, the Seanad accepted an amendment to the Planning and Development Bill, which would see only land previously zoned for housing before purchase subject to a levy.
“The amendment targets developers or speculators who are hoarding zoned, serviced lands purchased for residential use,” Minister of State for Housing, Damien English told the Seanad.
“While also allowing farmers who have operated their farm for a number of years prior to the rezoning from agricultural to residential to continue to operate the farm without liability to the levy…”
A number of local authorities had outraged farmers by applying the levy to active agricultural land, under the “vacant and idle” definition laid out in the original terms of the vacant site levy.
The amendment clarifies the matter
Minister English also pledged to the Seanad that the Government would ensure that the vacant site levy imposed on farmland by local authorities would be lifted.
“If land has always been used for farming and was purchased before the register was established, it will not be levied,” Minister English stated.
“The amendment clarifies the matter, on which guidance notes will be given to local authorities…If someone is genuinely farming and has always been, he or she will be looked after.”
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