Development Contribution Payment

What are development contributions
Legislation
Development Contribution Scheme 2023-2029
How to pay your development contribution
Further information

What are development contributions?

Development Contributions apply to certain planning permissions, depending on the nature of the development. The reason for the application of Development Contributions is for the provision of Infrastructure in the County of Laois. They allow Laois County Council to provide these valuable services which are availed by all citizens of Laois and other counties/countries that visit our County.

If Development Contributions do apply, the charges are liable prior to commencement of any development.

Legislation

Section 48 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 as amended enables a Laois County Council, when granting planning permission under Section 34 of the Act, to include conditions requiring the payment of a financial 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 the Local Authority, regardless of other sources of funding for the infrastructure and facilities.

Under subsections [2] and (3) of Section 48, a scheme:

shall state the basis for the determination of a contribution to be paid in respect of public infrastructure and facilities;
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 the Local Authority having 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;
may make provision for payment of different contributions in respect of different classes or descriptions of development;
may 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 a local authority in respect of public infrastructure and facilities which benefit the proposed development.
may allow for the payment of a reduced contribution or no contribution in certain circumstances, in accordance with the provisions of the scheme.

Development Contribution Scheme 2023-2029

The current Laois County Council Development Contribution Scheme 2023-2029 was adopted by the Elected Members of the Council and came into effect on the 20th October 2023.

Adopted Development Contribution Scheme 2023-2029.pdf (pdf, 1.07 MB)

This document outlines the relevant charges that would be liable (please note that exemptions apply on certain applications.

How to pay your development contribution

There are several payment options available to you. They are:

In person

At the Cash Office (in the Motor Tax Office), Áras an Chontae, JFL Avenue, Portlaoise, Co. Laois, R32 EHP9 between 9:30am – 1:00pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays)

Have your Planning Permission number and your Customer ID (found on the top right-hand side of the invoice) to hand so that payment can be receipted directly to your account.

By Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)

Payment can be made via your banking app/online directly to Laois County Council’s bank account. Please call 057 565 9320 for BIC and IBAN details.

Please quote your Customer ID followed by the letters DC (Development Contributions) on all electronic payments e.g. 123456DC. This ensures that the payment is allocated directly to your account upon receipt.

By post

Payment can be made via cheque/postal order made payable to: Laois County Council.

Please forward to: Cash Office, Áras an Chontae, JFL Avenue, Portlaoise, Co. Laois, R32 EHP9, quoting your Customer ID followed by the letters DC (Development Contributions) on all electronic payments e.g. 123456DC on the back of the cheque/postal order. This ensures that the payment is allocated directly to your account upon receipt.

By phone

Payments can be processed over the phone with a Debit/Credit Card via the Cash Office on 057 867 4308 9:30am – 3:30pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays).