Property Tax

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 September 2020

Thursday, 10 September 2020

Questions (97)

Noel Grealish

Question:

97. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which changes to local property tax will benefit County Galway further to a statement by the Minister of State with special responsibility for local government and planning on 11 October 2019 to that effect; the details of the changes to the tax in view of the fact that County Galway is the second biggest county in Ireland and has the second lowest funding per capita; when these changes will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23257/20]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

As with all taxation matters, responsibility for Local Property Tax (LPT), including the structure and basic rate of the tax, rests with the Minister for Finance. Notwithstanding that, as LPT replaced general purpose funding to local authorities in 2015, I am responsible for LPT allocations to local authorities.

I can confirm that the LPT allocation process for 2021 is unchanged from recent years and that my Department has recently informed local authorities of their pre-variation LPT allocations for 2021, based on collection data provided by the Revenue Commissioners. This will ensure that local authority members, in line with their statutory responsibilities, can make informed decisions on LPT variation by the end of September deadline.