Property Tax Administration

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 January 2014

Tuesday, 28 January 2014

Questions (508)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

508. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the local adjustment factor contained in the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012 in relation to collection of the local property tax and its redistribution to local authorities; if he will be introducing regulations in respect of the local adjustment factor; and when the local adjustment factor would be permitted to be used by a local authority. [3712/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Under section 20 of the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012, a local authority may as a reserved function resolve to vary the rate of the Local Property Tax within its functional area by a maximum of +/-15%. This power will be available to local authorities effective from 2015, as the relevant sections of the Act will come into operation on 1 July 2014.

Section 20 of the Act requires that, in varying the rate, a local authority must take account of its financial position, its income and expenditure, and of the financial effect of the varied rate on the economy of its functional area, including on those persons who will be liable to pay the Local Property Tax. Section 20 also provides that the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government may make regulations, including in respect of public consultation requirements prior to the variation of the rate of the Tax. I will give consideration to the making of such regulations in advance of the coming into operation of section 20 of the 2012 Act.