Mepa's development application ra tes have been revised, the authority said.

It said in a statement the rates were introduced when the authority was set up in 1993. These had never been changed and the authority's income was not reflecting its expenditure.

The new rates can be seen in the pdf file below.

PL REACTION

The Labour Party's spokesman on Mepa, Roderick Galdes - a Mepa board member nominated by the Opposition - said these hefty increases meant the people would pay for the government's inefficiency.

He said some of the tariffs were socially unfair and would impose new burdens, particularly on the young.

He noted that tariffs for compliance certificates would rise by 600%, garages by 1000%; development notification orders, 400%; room extensions 500% and a new €50 charge for those who sought advice from Mepa.

"While Mepa found it easy to waive millions of euro due from developers who harmed the environment, and while it used up the funds in the commuted parking scheme without any transparency, it is now imposing a tax burden on the people," Mr Galdes said.

He noted that the tariff increases had come just days after the Mepa chairman described himself as an expensive car.

These increase had also come about after Mepa revealed a €10m deficit over the last financial year.

These increases, he said, would not enable the authority to be self-financing, but would only cover the government's inefficiency and waste, Mr Galdes said.

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