I wish to ask about promised legislation relating to vacant site levies. It has come to my attention that in the Limerick area, land zoned for residential purposes that is being used for agricultural purposes may be coming under the site levy and may incur charges under the site levy. I believe it would be helpful if we could correct any anomalies that might be within the legislation to target what we need to target, that is, land hoarding by developers. We need to negate that against the agricultural use. Land that is being used for agricultural use might be zoned through no fault of the landowner.

I thank Deputy Neville for the question. As the Deputy will be aware, in last years' budget we increased by more than double the vacant site levy on vacant land that was being hoarded and that could be used for the development of housing. From the beginning of this year the 3% levy applies and from next year the levy jumps to 7%. That means over a two-year period there will be a 10% levy on land.

It is up to each local authority to decide which lands go onto its register. If farmland is in productive use, it should not be included. If the Deputy wishes to give me the specific example and case, I will speak to the local authority about it.