Imelda Munster
Ceist:453. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated cost of extending the local authority rates waiver for tourism and hospitality to March 2022. [17609/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 31 March 2021
Ceisteanna (453, 454)
Imelda Munster
Ceist:454. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated cost of extending the local authority rates waiver for tourism and hospitality to the end of 2021. [17610/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 453 and 454 together.
In order to continue supporting businesses and ratepayers, and in recognition of the ongoing impacts of COVID 19 and the associated public health restrictions, the Government put in place a commercial rates waiver for the first half of 2021. The waiver applies to businesses most seriously affected by ongoing restrictions, with automatic eligibility extending to retail, hospitality, including hotels, pubs and restaurants, leisure and entertainment, personal services such as hairdressers and barbers, health services and various other categories.
The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority. Local authorities levy rates on property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015. Valuation lists contain broad categories of commercial property and there is no distinct category for the tourism sector. Accordingly, the figures quoted in this reply are estimates only.
The estimated cost of extending the local authority rates waiver for tourism and hospitality is approximately €52.9 million per quarter, €44.2m from hospitality, and €8.7m from leisure and entertainment respectively. The estimated cost to extend the rates waiver for these categories from 1 July until the end of 2021 is approximately €105.8m million and to extend until the end of March 2022 is approximately €158.7m million.