There have been calls for the Government to reflect on its decision to introduce a concrete levy at a time of super inflation in the construction industry.
Local Independent TD Seán Canney said that the levy will add €1,285 to the cost of a 3-bed semi-detached house.
It will also add €297 million to the delivery targets in the Government’s own Housing for All targets for 2030 according to a recent report from KPMG.
Deputy Canney said that Ireland produces 5 million cubic metres of concrete and 150 million concrete blocks every year.
“Concrete is a core building material that is vital to the delivery of roads, footpaths, schools, houses, apartments, offices, factories, flood relief schemes and farm buildings,” he said.
“At a time of already high inflation where concrete has risen in price by 43% over the last 2 years this levy will bring inflation up to 50% and block inflation will rise from 30 to 36%.”
Deputy Canney said that this is ‘unsustainable’ and that the Government needs to reflect on the consequences of introducing this levy at this time.
“The levy will add cost to every building and will have a negative effect on the cost of building houses which will deter young people from building or buying their first home.
“The decision by Government to introduce the levy to help meet the cost of the redress scheme for defective concrete will cover only 15% of the cost of the scheme and will but an unfair burden of future generation trying to buy or build a home.”
