NO FEE FOR 1ST REPRO Embargoed till midnight 15 May 2017 The Social Democrats today [Tuesday 16 May] publish a Bill to free up more vacant land for housing. The Urban Regeneration and Housing (Amendment) Bill 2017 addresses significant anomalies in current legislation and encourages the development of vacant sites in urban areas. Pictured Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD and Social Democrats Dublin city councillor, Gary Gannon. Pic Paul Sharp/SHARPPIX Publishing the Bill today, Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD said: “We are in the midst of a housing crisis with a total of 7,500 people living in emergency accommodation. This is not a crisis caused by a shortage of land to develop – it’s down to the fact that we are not building on the land that we have, especially in urban areas where hundreds of infill sites are lying neglected and overgrown. “This Bill plugs loopholes in the existing law and introduces fresh incentives to make sure that landowners and developers make more land available for housing and other developments. And more supply means that the cost of land will come down.” The Social Democrats Bill promotes vacant site usage by: ·       Freeing up hundreds of sites that could accommodate residential units The Bill extends the existing vacant site levy to all lands that can legally accommodate new housing – currently, the annual charge applies only to sites above 500sq metres. ·       Incentivising landowners to sell or develop sites rather than hoarding them The Bill increases the rate of the vacant site levy the longer sites remain undeveloped. Currently, a 3% levy would apply, regardless of how long a site has been vacant. Under the Bill, this rate increases by one per centage point for every full year that a site remains on the Vacant Site Register. ·       Prioritising the public good over the rights of indebted landowners The Bill applies a 3%
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Eoin O'Hara
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NO REPRO FEE Social Democrats' inaugural National Conference, Saturday, 19th November 2016. Social Democrats Call for Abolition of Official Secrets Act, End to Religious Discrimination in Schools and Constitutional Reform on Private Property Rights. Pictured LtoR: Catherine Murphy, TD, Party Leader and Róisín Shortall, TD, Party Leader, Social Democrats. Highlighted at the conference was the need to prioritise the public interest over vested interests and introduce wide-ranging reforms across public services. A range of panel discussions and workshops addressing topics including housing, healthcare, Brexit, and repeal of the Eighth Amendment took place throughout the day. Elections were also held for the Social Democrats’ first National Executive, with the Party’s new Chair and Vice-Chair announced. The Social Democrats’ Constitution was also unveiled for the first time.Contact: Martina Quinn / Emily Brennan, Alice PR & Events, Tel: 087-6522033 / 086-1658629, Email: media@alicepr.com Picture: Maura Hickey.
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Eoin O'Hara
