No Green Party ‘climb down’ on land tax, O’Gorman says

Exemptions for farmers will be implemented as part of a tax on land hoarding in the Budget, the Green Party leader has said.

The Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT) is designed to be charged each year on land that is zoned suitable for residential use and has access to necessary services.

The RZLT aims to incentivise landowners to activate existing planning permissions to increase housing supply.

However, the introduction of the tax and penalties have previously been deferred amid backlash from groups such as the Irish Farmers’ Association, which has opposed the inclusion of land that is used for farm operations.

Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman said he was “confident” the measures could be implemented in the Budget on October 1.

“Across all three government parties, there remains complete agreement that taking measures to make more housing available is our top priority.”

He said a tax on land hoarding is a key mechanism for increasing housing delivery, but added that it was “never the plan” to impact farmers.

“I’m confident that we will see a carve out for farmers who are currently farming and wish to continue farming their land, but at the same time ensure that at this at this year’s Budget, we see tax on land hoarding implemented.”

However, Mr O’Gorman said the Green Party was “disappointed” that the legislation was deferred in last year’s budget.

He said he had engaged with Finance Minister Jack Chambers on the matter ahead of this year’s Budget.

Mr O’Gorman said there was a need to ensure that where people have land that is zoned and serviced, that they either build on it themselves or allow somebody else to start construction there.

He added: “Because the scale of the housing crisis is too great for us just to allow that land stay idle.”

The Green leader said he did not see the exemptions for farmers as a “climb down” for the party.

Speaking at the same event on Monday, Taoiseach Simon Haris said he also wanted to see the tax progressed.

He said new proposals would be considered by the Cabinet before the Budget.