IFA Secures Change to Vacant Site Legislation for Farmland
IFA President Joe Healy has welcomed as a first step an amendment to the Vacant Site Levy legislation, which will ensure farmland will not be liable for the levy, as long as the land was owned and farmed by the farmer prior to its being zoned as residential.
The amendment comes as a result of IFA representations to Minister John Paul Phelan and to local authorities on this matter.
Joe Healy said that to deem farmland as vacant simply because it is zoned for another purpose is completely unacceptable and not in line with the intention of the Vacant Site Levy.
He said the amending legislation must be enacted swiftly, and in the meantime Minister Phelan should issue clear direction to all local authorities that farmland should not be included on their vacant site register.
