asked the Minister for Finance whether he is aware of the unfairness arising from the present system of revision of valuations on the initiation of rate collectors owing to the dissimilar interpretation of their duty by these officials and the resulting variation in the degree of their activity, some initiating large numbers of cases for revision while others take practically no action; and, if so, whether he will introduce proposals for legislation to amend the law so as to provide a system of revision of valuations which will have a more uniform effect on all concerned.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Revision of Valuations.
I am not in a position to judge the extent of any unfairness which dissimilar interpretation by rate collectors of their duty to list properties for revision of valuation and the resulting variation in their activity in that respect may give rise to. The annual list of valuations submitted by each rating authority to the Valuation Office for revision is merely a summary of what is furnished by rate collectors and ratepayers.
The present system which has been in operation for close on a century, while perhaps not ideal, has in practice been reasonably satisfactory. This matter has, however, been kept under review since 1948 and I am now having the position specially examined with a view to seeing what steps—including enactment of amending legislation, if necessary—might be taken towards achieving a better system.
The Minister can give no information as to why there has been this spate of activity on the part of particular rate collectors, resulting in an increase in valuation?
No. As I said, what comes to the Valuation Office is merely a summary of what may be furnished either by rate collectors or ratepayers and the list does not distinguish between what has been initiated by a ratepayer and what has been initiated by a rate collector. I am having a review made of rate collectors' duties, which have accumulated over a period. I would not like the Deputy to feel that I am accepting his view that there has been a spate of increased valuation. The latest figures I have show that whereas pre-war any one year shows an increase of 2 to 2½ per cent. on the previous year, the situation now is that, after nine years during which no valuation was done, the average increase is about 4 per cent.