Victor Boyhan seeks clarity on residential zone land tax
Victor Boyhan addresses the Dail to raise questions about the residential zone land tax and the vacant sites levy during the final week before the summer recess. He asks the Minister to clarify how land in active agricultural use will be treated amid pressures to complete legislation and deliver housing.
Summary: Victor Boyhan welcomed the Minister and referenced Senator Alice Mary Higgins' amendment on the vacant sites levy. He emphasised the wider context of planning and the need to balance housing delivery with infrastructure and enterprise when considering taxes or levies on land.
Housing and enterprise: Boyhan reminded colleagues that the debate on planning and development must include facilities for enterprise and infrastructure, not only houses. He argued that sustainable development requires a broad view that protects jobs and services alongside new homes.
Agriculture and land use: Speaking from his role on the Agricultural Committee, Boyhan noted submissions from farming organisations and referenced the Taoiseach's commitment to revisit the matter. He warned that land actively used for agriculture, horticulture and related services must not be swept into a residential zone land tax without clear safeguards.
Request for clarity: Boyhan asked the Minister for explicit clarification on the residential zone land tax to address widespread concern among farmers and rural communities. He repeated Senator Higgins' call for greater clarity on how proposed measures would be applied in practice.
Summary: Victor Boyhan welcomed the Minister and referenced Senator Alice Mary Higgins' amendment on the vacant sites levy. He emphasised the wider context of planning and the need to balance housing delivery with infrastructure and enterprise when considering taxes or levies on land.
Housing and enterprise: Boyhan reminded colleagues that the debate on planning and development must include facilities for enterprise and infrastructure, not only houses. He argued that sustainable development requires a broad view that protects jobs and services alongside new homes.
Agriculture and land use: Speaking from his role on the Agricultural Committee, Boyhan noted submissions from farming organisations and referenced the Taoiseach's commitment to revisit the matter. He warned that land actively used for agriculture, horticulture and related services must not be swept into a residential zone land tax without clear safeguards.
Request for clarity: Boyhan asked the Minister for explicit clarification on the residential zone land tax to address widespread concern among farmers and rural communities. He repeated Senator Higgins' call for greater clarity on how proposed measures would be applied in practice.
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Transcript
Thank you Comhairleach, well firstly I want to welcome the Minister and his team of staff here to the House. I suppose just to take up on some of the points that Senator Alice Mary Higgins has made, and I just want to really touch on them. I'm conscious we're under a lot of pressure at the time, where the last week of before the summer recess there is an eagerness to complete a number of pieces of legislation over the next two days. So mindful of all of that, I just want to say this is section 3, we're talking about an amendment 1 in the name of Senator Alice Mary Higgins. And I suppose she's touched on a few issues in relation to the vacant sites levy, and yes there is concerns about that, and it's gone from now being, you know, does this levy or tax, call it what you will, and I think clearly we've got to see everything in the context of the demand and the drive to produce more homes, more housing. And indeed more facilities for enterprise, because we must never lose infrastructure and enterprise in the bigger debate of planning and development, proper planning and sustainable development. It isn't only about houses, and while houses are very important. I am somewhat surprised in relation, and I think it might be helpful for the Minister just to clarify, I mean there was great expectation about the residential zone land tax. I sit on the Agricultural Committee. You will be aware that the IFA have made submissions in relation to it. You'll also be aware that the Taoiseach's commitment to look at it again. And we cannot countenance a situation where land that is in active use for agriculture, horticulture, and allied industries and services related to agriculture and sustainable food production can fall under the residential zone land tax. And we talk about a land use strategy and the need to enhance our land use strategy and develop that, and I know there are other plans to bring other strategies down the track or down the pathway. So I suppose what would be helpful is to have some clarity in relation to the residential zone land tax. Because you say residential zone land tax once, be it Farmers Journal, Agri-Land, Agri-Independent, Agri-News. It's a huge issue. It's an issue that farmers are particularly exercised, and rightly so, and understandably so. So perhaps we could have some, as Senator Higgins said, we need a bit of clarity in relation to the residential zone land tax in the context of what Senator Higgins is proposing. Thanks.