Vol. 563 No. 4
225 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance if he will make a subvention of ?3 million to Fingal County Council to make up for the loss of income on new rateable property arising from the dispute in the Valuation Office. [7875/03]
It is not my intention to make a subvention to Fingal County Council or, indeed, to any other local authority arising from the recent industrial action in the Valuation Office. While a regrettable effect of industrial action was that the Valuation Office was unable to deliver a full valuation service to local authorities, I understand such action ceased earlier this year and that staff in the Valuation Office have resumed normal duties. I am confident that management at the Valuation Office is working to ensure that any backlog that might have arisen is being addressed in order to ensure local authorities can maximise their revenue for this year.
I understand that all revision requests received by the Valuation Office from Fingal County Council during 2002 were dealt with although 15 properties were not valued. These properties are currently the subject of an appeal by the council to the Commissioner of Valuation. The council's income from commercial rates for 2003 will increase if any of these appeals is successful.
