Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As well as accepting Dr. Thornhill's proposal that the revaluation date would be deferred to 2018 or 2019, I accepted and enacted other proposals and amendments as well. For example, proposals regarding the treatment of property with pyrite defects and properties adapted for persons with disabilities were enacted in the Finance Act 2015. I know there are other problems in the quality of building materials, particularly in counties in the north west of Ireland. The Department with responsibility for building standards is the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government. I understand that an expert panel on concrete blocks was established by that Department in April 2016 to investigate the problems that have emerged in the concrete block work of certain dwellings in Donegal and Mayo. The terms of reference of the panel have been published. In general, the terms of reference were designed to establish the facts behind the problems that have emerged in Donegal and Mayo and to outline technical options for addressing the problems identified in order to assist affected homeowners. When it was set up in April, the terms of reference required it to report within six months and to advise on solutions. That report should come to hand pretty quickly. We can then consider all of the issues that are wrung from it. I agree with the Deputy that, on the basis of the evidence at this stage, there is a problem and a genuine cause for concern. I await the advice of the technical report to see what way that can be remediated or what the parent Department proposes by way of remediation.

The 4% rate is half of the standard rate of 8% that applies to late payment of LPT. It is not related to current interest rates, but it was 50% off the penalty rate that applied to late payments of LPT. As I say, the revaluation date is to take place from 2019.

The Government of the day would have to make a decision about it in advance. The programme for Government has committed to a general review of measures to boost local government leadership and accountability. That is agreed in the programme for a partnership Government. It provides for the preparation of a report by mid-2017 and it would be very difficult to develop such a report without taking into account how property tax is operating in local authorities and reflecting on some of the other recommendations made by Dr. Thornhill. Deputy Doherty will get his report anyway arising from that commitment in the programme for Government, although it will not be related solely to property tax. Without having seen any draft terms of reference, property tax would be within the remit of the consideration.