Vol. 473 No. 3
117 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment the current position of local authorities regarding their powers in raising funds for tourist development or other purposes; if a power to place a local tax on hotel rooms currently exists; if not, if such a power is being examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25161/96]
Local authorities may raise funds in various ways, including commercial rates, fees and charges for goods and services and borrowing, for the purposes of any of their powers and functions, including tourism-related development. Rates are already levied by local authorities on commercial and industrial properties, including hotels. I have no proposals for a more specific form of hotelrelated local taxation.
