Mr. John O'Sullivan:

We will treat a ratepayer exactly the same whether or not they are represented professionally by an agent. That is their right as a citizen and ratepayer. We give them every assistance but once they come through the door we are on opposite sides. We are contending for one value and they for a different one. In practice, many people handle their own case and we have seen this in Waterford and Limerick. The Deputy is right, however, that there are several professional agents operating in this area, many of whom are members of the Society of Chartered Surveyors, while others are members of IPAV. It is an important part of the overall process as it enforces the credibility of the work we do.

I was asked about outcomes and I can give the statistics for Limerick and Waterford. In Limerick, 0.3% of the value of the valuation list has decreased.