“The concrete and concrete block levy will add at least €5,000 to costs for every person trying to build a house.”
That is according to Independent TD, Danny Healy-Rae, who has warned that it will also add millions to the cost of the government’s public works and social housing building.
In his recent address to the Dáil, on a motion on the concrete block levy, he explained that concrete product and concrete block prices have already jumped up 30% in the last nine months.
“The €80 million will be a lot more if the young people can continue building one-off houses, for which it is hard to get planning permission in places around Killarney.”
“All types of housing materials have gone up in price. Is there any fear that we have already paid for it and that we have paid over and above for it?”
Concrete block levy
Moreover, he stated that people are being hit by taxes of “every creed and description”. He pointed to carbon tax, VAT, income tax, property tax and “any other tax the government can think of”.
“People have to pay up. There are humps on people with lorries and tractors trying to pay the extra VAT and excise duty on the fuel as they try to keep their vehicles going. They have already paid.”
The deputy said the government is “giving grants to farmers for buildings and slurry storage on the one hand”. “Then, it is increasing the cost of concrete and concrete blocks on the other”.
“That is not fair. What the government is doing is wrong. It is hurting the ordinary young people trying to put a roof over their heads, which they are entitled to do.”
“Instead of helping them, the government is hurting them,” he concluded.
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