Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 May 2013
203. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Finance if statistics from the local property tax collected by the Revenue Commissioners will be made available for academic purposes such as geographers and academics as mentioned by the chairperson's recent comments in the media; when he expects this information to be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22481/13]
View answerI am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that they have adopted a very open approach in their work on implementing the Local Property Tax (LPT) to date. In creating its valuation guidance, Revenue consulted widely with academic and other researchers in the field of property valuation. Revenue engaged geo-specialist consultants from an academic institution in Ireland to assist in creating the database used for valuation purposes. In addition to publishing valuation guidance application on its website, Revenue also made the data used in the guidance application available to researchers, businesses and the public. This enables any interested party to map the average valuations in the Revenue guidance through their own mapping software or spatial analysis tools. The same data are also available in hard copy paper format for those without internet access.
Aside from valuation guidance related statistics, since the launch of the LPT campaign in March Revenue has provided regular updates on returns filed and this type of update will continue. The Commissioners also expect to be in a position later in the year to make publicly available further information on return filing and payment compliance levels, as well as property valuation patterns on a geographical basis.
It is clear to me that Revenue has adopted an open approach to working with academic and interested parties in the implementation of the LPT and I am advised that they will continue to evaluate options for sharing statistics and data as appropriate and feasible over the coming months as the LPT progresses, consistent with ensuring that taxpayer confidentiality is protected.
