Ireland round-up: Levy for undeveloped land, investment in social housing

Levy plan to penalise owners of undeveloped housing sites in Ireland

Finance minister Michael Noonan has launched a public consultation on plans to introduce a vacant site levy on owners of residential zoned land in Ireland which is not being developed.

The Planner

Additional target of 2,000 housing units through new fund

Environment minister Alan Kelly and housing minister Paudie Coffey have welcomed a new €300 million fund for investment in social housing that should lead to the provision of an additional 2,000 social housing units over the next three years.

Irish Government News Service

Maynooth University to embark on €150m development plan

Maynooth University in County Kildare is embarking on a €150 million development plan, thanks to a low-interest loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB). This will allow it to build state-of-the-art academic, research and residence facilities as it prepares to increase its enrolments by almost 20 per cent over the next five years.

Independent

New possibilities open with Living City Initiative

The European Union has cleared the way for a government urban renewal scheme known as the Living City Initiative. It will offer tax relief to owners  of older property who want to refurbish buildings in the centres of Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Galway and Kilkenny.

Independent