Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

I would like to put a brief supplementary question on the Minister's response to the first question regarding pending increases. The Minister has indicated that approximately 30% of households will face an increase. The figure I have, which is taken from reports and the media, is 36%, which is closer to 40% than 30%. The Minister might confirm that that is the case.

On statistics, the Minister says that many households will experience a freeze or a decrease as opposed to an increase. The figures would indicate that the ratio in terms of the numbers that would not increase is less than 2:1 and that the number that decrease would be less than one third of the number that increase. The question element on this is in regard to the big cities.

I take the Minister's point there cannot be an absolute indication of where the increases will hit. However, I believe it is a fair comment - I am asking the Minister if he disagrees and I am couching this in quite general terms - that given the fact property price increases have tended to be greater in more concentrated urban areas and the bigger cities, it will tend to be the case that a disproportionate amount of the increases in property tax bills will be concentrated in those areas. I take it the Minister would not seriously challenge that basic statement.