Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 January 2019
591. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount collected from commercial rates levied on businesses here by local authorities in each of the years 2011 to 2018 and to date in 2019; the number of businesses levied each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3831/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra593. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if a review has been conducted of the economic impact of local authority rates on small and medium businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3833/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 591 and 593 together.
Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation pursuant to the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority. The annual rate on valuation, ARV, which is applied to the valuation of each property determined by the Valuation Office, to obtain the amount payable in rates, is decided by the elected members of each local authority in the annual budget and its determination is a reserved function. Rates income makes an important contribution to meeting the cost of services provided by local authorities such as roads, public lighting, development control, parks and open spaces.
While no review of the economic impact of rates on small and medium size enterprises has been carried out by my Department, it should be noted that the national average ARV has not changed significantly in recent years. It decreased slightly each year from 2010 to 2015 and has increased slightly each year from 2016 to 2018. In addition, local authorities may offer ratepayers assistance or money-in-kind in order to promote the interests of the local community, which includes the economic and general development of the administrative area concerned. Local authorities also work closely with any ratepayers that may experience difficulty paying rates and facilitate flexible payment options.
The Local Government (Rates) Bill 2018 includes provisions to allow local authorities to introduce rates alleviation schemes to support policy objectives, including local economic and community plans, development objectives and planning policies. The Bill has been scheduled for second stage in the Dáil on 30-31 January 2019.
My Department does not collate data on the number of properties paying rates in individual local authority areas. As regards the value of rates collected nationally, the latest available audited information relates to 2017. The total value of commercial rates collected, as reported by local authorities in their individual audited financial statements 2011-2017, is set out in the table. It should be noted that the amounts collected may include arrears.
|
2011€ |
2012€ |
2013€ |
2014€ |
2015€ |
2016€ |
2017€ |
|
1,264,838,715 |
1,274,013,442 |
1,295,621,403 |
1,325,186,430 |
1,344,742,056 |
1,318,402,246 |
1,341,822,316 |
