48.—(1) A planning authority may, when granting a permission under section 34, include conditions for requiring the payment of a contribution in respect of public infrastructure and facilities benefiting development in the area of the planning authority and that is provided, or that it is intended will be provided, by or on behalf of a local authority (regardless of other sources of funding for the infrastructure and facilities).

(2) (a) Subject to paragraph (c), the basis for the determination of a contribution under subsection (1) shall be set out in a development contribution scheme made under this section, and a planning authority may make one or more schemes in respect of different parts of its functional area.

(b) A scheme may make provision for payment of different contributions in respect of different classes or descriptions of development.

(c) A planning authority may, in addition to the terms of a scheme, require the payment of a special contribution in respect of a particular development where specific exceptional costs not covered by a scheme are incurred by any local authority in respect of public infrastructure and facilities which benefit the proposed development.

(3) (a) A scheme shall state the basis for determining the contributions to be paid in respect of public infrastructure and facilities, in accordance with the terms of the scheme.

(b) In stating the basis for determining the contributions in accordance with paragraph (a), the scheme shall indicate the contribution to be paid in respect of the different classes of public infrastructure and facilities which are provided or to be provided by any local authority and the planning authority shall have regard to the actual estimated cost of providing the classes of public infrastructure and facilities, except that any benefit which accrues in respect of existing development may not be included in any such determination.

(c) A scheme may allow for the payment of a reduced contribution or no contribution in certain circumstances, in accordance with the provisions of the scheme.

F454[(3A) Where a permission which includes conditions referred to in subsection (1) has been granted under section 34 in respect of a development and the basis for the determination of the contribution under subsection (1) has changed—

(a) where the development is one to which Part II of the Building Control Regulations 1997 (S.I. No. 496 of 1997) applies and a commencement notice within the meaning of that Part in respect of the development has not been lodged, or

F455[(b) where the development comprises houses and one or more of those houses has not been rented, leased, occupied or sold,]

the planning authority shall apply that change to the conditions of the permission where to do so would reduce the amount of the contribution payable.

F455[(3B) Where a development referred to in subsection (3A) comprises houses one or more of which has not been rented, leased, occupied or sold the planning authority shall apply the change in the basis for the determination of the contribution referred to in that subsection only in respect of any house or houses that have not been rented, leased, occupied or sold.]

(3C) Where the planning authority applies a change in the basis for the determination of a development contribution under subsection (3A) it may amend a condition referred to in subsection (1) in order to reflect the change.]

(4) Where a planning authority proposes to make a scheme under this section, it shall publish in one or more newspapers circulating in the area to which the scheme relates, a notice—

(a) stating that a draft scheme has been prepared,

(b) giving details of the proposed contributions under the draft scheme,

(c) indicating the times at which, the period (which shall be not less than 6 weeks) during which, and the place where, a copy of the draft scheme may be inspected, and

(d) stating that submissions or observations may be made in writing to the planning authority in relation to the draft scheme, before the end of the period for inspection.

(5) (a) In addition to the requirements of subsection (4), a planning authority shall send a copy of the draft scheme to the Minister.

(b) The Minister may make recommendations to the planning authority regarding the terms of the draft scheme, within 6 weeks of being sent the scheme.

(6) (a) Not later than 4 weeks after the expiration of the period for making submissions or observations under subsection (4), the F456[chief executive] of a planning authority shall prepare a report on any submissions or observations received under that subsection, and submit the report to the members of the authority for their consideration.

(b) A report under paragraph (a) shall—

(i) list the persons or bodies who made submissions or observations under this section,

(ii) summarise the issues raised by the persons or bodies in the submissions or observations, and

(iii) give the response of the F456[chief executive] to the issues raised, taking account of the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

(7) The members of the planning authority shall consider the draft scheme and the report of the F456[chief executive] under subsection (6), and shall have regard to any recommendations made by the Minister under subsection (5).

(8) (a) Following the consideration of the F456[chief executive’s report], and having had regard to any recommendations made by the Minister, the planning authority shall make the scheme, unless it decides, by resolution, to vary or modify the scheme, otherwise than as recommended in the F456[chief executive’s report], or otherwise decides not to make the scheme.

(b) A resolution under paragraph (a) must be passed not later than 6 weeks after receipt of the F456[chief executive’s report].

(9) (a) Where a planning authority makes a scheme in accordance with subsection (8), the authority shall publish notice of the making, or approving, of the scheme, as the case may be, in at least one newspaper circulating in its area.

(b) A notice under paragraph (a) shall—

(i) give the date of the decision of the planning authority in respect of the draft scheme,

(ii) state the nature of the decision, and

(iii) contain such other information as may be prescribed.

(10) (a) Subject to paragraph (b), no appeal shall lie to the Board in relation to a condition requiring a contribution to be paid in accordance with a scheme made under this section.

(b) An appeal may be brought to the Board where an applicant for permission under section 34 considers that the terms of the scheme have not been properly applied in respect of any condition laid down by the planning authority.

(c) Notwithstanding section 34(11), where an appeal is brought in accordance with paragraph (b), and no other appeal of the decision of a planning authority is brought by any other person under section 37, the authority shall make the grant of permission as soon as may be after the expiration of the period for the taking of an appeal. provided that the person who takes the appeal in accordance with paragraph (b) furnishes to the planning authority security for payment of the full amount of the contribution as specified in the condition.

(11) Where an appeal is brought to the Board in respect of a refusal to grant permission under this Part, and where the Board decides to grant permission, it shall, where appropriate, apply as a condition to the permission the provisions of the contribution scheme for the time being in force in the area of the proposed development.

(12) Where payment of a special contribution is required in accordance with subsection (2) (c), the following provisions shall apply—

(a) the condition shall specify the particular works carried out, or proposed to be carried out, by any local authority to which the contribution relates,

(b) where the works in question—

F457[(i) are not commenced within 5 years of the date of payment to the authority of the contribution (or final instalment thereof, if paid by phased payment under subsection (15)(a)),

(ii) have commenced, but have not been completed within 7 years of the date of payment to the authority of the contribution (or final instalment thereof, if paid by phased payment under subsection (15)(a)), or]

(iii) where the local authority decides not to proceed with the proposed works or part thereof.

the contribution shall, subject to paragraph (c), be refunded to the applicant together with any interest that may have accrued over the period while held by the local authority,

(c) where under subparagraph (ii) or (iii) of paragraph (b), any local authority has incurred expenditure within the required period in respect of a proportion of the works proposed to be carried out, any refund shall be in proportion to those proposed works which have not been carried out.

(13) (a) Notwithstanding sections 37 and 139, where an appeal received by the Board after the commencement of this section relates solely to a condition dealing with a special contribution, and no appeal is brought by any other person under section 37 of the decision of the planning authority under that section, the Board shall not determine the relevant application as if it had been made to it in the first instance, but shall determine only the matters under appeal.

(b) Notwithstanding section 34(11), where an appeal referred to in paragraph (a) is received by the Board, and no appeal is brought by any other person under section 37, the authority shall make the grant of permission as soon as may be after the expiration of the period for the taking of an appeal, provided that the person who takes the appeal furnishes to the planning authority, pending the decision of the Board, security for payment of the full amount of the special contribution as specified in the condition referred to in paragraph (a).

(14) (a) Money accruing to a local authority under this section shall be accounted for in a separate account, and shall only be applied as capital for public infrastructure and facilities.

(b) A report of a local authority under section 50 of the Local Government Act, 1991, shall contain details of monies paid or owing to it under this section and shall indicate how such monies paid to it have been expended by any local authority.

(15) (a) A planning authority may facilitate the phased payment of contributions under this section, and may require the giving of security to ensure payment of contributions.

(b) Where a contribution is not paid in accordance with the terms of the condition laid down by the planning authority, any outstanding amounts due to the planning authority shall be paid together with interest that may have accrued over the period while withheld by the person required to pay the contribution.

(c) A planning authority may recover, as a simple contract debt in a court of competent jurisdiction, any contribution or interest due to the planning authority under this section.

(16) (a) A planning authority shall make a scheme or schemes under this section within 2 years of the commencement of this section.

(b) Notwithstanding the repeal of any enactment by this Act, the provisions of section 26 of the Act of 1963, in relation to requiring contributions in respect of expenditure by local authorities on works which facilitate development, shall continue to apply pending the making of a scheme under this section, but shall not apply after two years from the commencement of this section.

(17) In this section—

“public infrastructure and facilities” means—

(a) the acquisition of land,

(b) the provision of open spaces, recreational and community facilities and amenities and landscaping works,

F455[(c) the provision of roads, car parks, car parking places, surface water sewers and flood relief work, and ancillary infrastructure,]

(d) the provision of bus corridors and lanes, bus interchange facilities (including car parks for those facilities), infrastructure to facilitate public transport, cycle and pedestrian facilities, and traffic calming measures,

F457[F455[(e) the refurbishment, upgrading, enlargement or replacement of roads, car parks, car parking places, surface water sewers, flood relief work and ancillary infrastructure,]

(f) the provision of high-capacity telecommunications infrastructure, such as broadband,

(g) the provision of school sites, and

(h) any matters ancillary to paragraphs (a) to (g).]

“scheme” means a development contribution scheme made under this section;

“special contribution” means a special contribution referred to in subsection (2)(c).