asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state if he received a protest from or on behalf of tenants of houses recently built by the Birr Urban Council concerning the rates charged on houses occupied by them, whether the Department sanctioned the fixing of a provisional valuation and the collection of rates based on same, and if he will quote the legal authority under which such action was taken by the county manager or state what he has done in this matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rates on Birr Houses.
Representations were received by my predecessor in March last regarding the charging of rates on 14 houses built by the Birr Urban District Council for a period in respect of which the houses were not valued by the Commissioner for Valuation. The Department did not approve of a specific provisional valuation in respect of these houses. It is understood that the rates collected on the provisional basis of valuation amounted to approximately 4/4 per week per house.
The matter was brought to the notice of the manager in May last, and it is understood that it will be discussed by the council at their next monthly meeting.
Will the Minister give the legal authority for the fixing by the county manager of a provisional valuation in these cases and for the collection of rates based on it?
It is possible that it was on a circular issued to the county councils some years ago that the decision in this case was taken by the manager. As I have said in my reply, I would prefer to wait until the council have discussed this whole question before making any comment on it.
This is a reserved function so far as the manager is concerned. I understand that he acted without consulting the council on the matter. May I put this to the Minister? If it is established to his satisfaction that the county manager has no legal authority to fix provisional valuations and collect rates on that basis, will he see that the manager will make a refund of what has already been collected?
I take it that, if these facts are established, no difficulty in that regard should arise.