Local Authority Housing Issues

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 May 2013

Wednesday, 15 May 2013

Questions (195)

Brian Stanley

Question:

195. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if local authorities are allowed to put the local property tax onto rents of local authority tenants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23258/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Jan O'Sullivan)

Housing rents are set in accordance with a rent scheme adopted by each local authority. The making and amending of rent schemes is the responsibility of housing authorities as an integral part of their housing management functions.

The current arrangements for determining local authority rents will be substantially replaced on the coming into force over the next year of provisions of Section 31 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009. That section predates the Local Property Tax legislation and does not make provision for the new tax to be taken into account in the determination of rents.