Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 November 2013
173. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Finance the numbers of persons who opted to have their local porperty tax deducted from their Department of social welfare payment for the 2013 period; of those persons the number who actually had the charge deducted from their payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49097/13]
View answerI am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that property owners in respect of approximately 15,450 residential properties have opted to pay their 2013 Local Property Tax (LPT) by way of deduction at source from a Department of Social Protection payment. The Commissioners have confirmed that, in the vast majority of cases, deductions from DSP payments have already commenced and over €1m has been collected by Revenue to date. In my reply to Question 228 (38380/13) on 18 September 2013, I informed the House that a number of issues had arisen with this payment option and that these were subsequently addressed by the Revenue Commissioners. The Commissioners have advised that where operational and administrative issues arise, these are being addressed on a case by case basis.
I am further advised that there is an ongoing dialogue between Revenue and the Department of Social Protection, with a view to ensuring that this payment option operates as smoothly as possible.
