Revised planning permission levies on proposed new residential and commercial developments are set to raise more than €246 million over the next six years for Dublin City Council, the High Court has been told.
Mr Maurice Collins, counsel for the local authority, told Mr Justice Abbott yesterday the council had been empowered under the 2000 Planning and Development Act to charge the levies to developers towards the provision of infrastructure.
He said the Construction Industry Federation had been granted leave to legally challenge the validity of the new levies, which had come into operation from January 1st. Mr Justice Kearns had granted a stay on the implementation of the scheme.
Mr Collins said in discussions with Mr James Macken, counsel for the federation, it had been agreed the stay could be discharged by consent, allowing the council to implement the scheme on the basis that should the construction industry's legal challenge succeed any levies would be returned to developers.
Mr Justice Abbott approved the lifting of the stay on the implementation of the scheme.