Ms Anne Gunnell:

We are in agreement with the Commission on Taxation and Welfare report. Its report states it is in favour of site value tax to the extent it is not applying to residential property. Local property tax, LPT, is our best way forward. It is very well administered by the Revenue Commissioners already and accepted by the population. We should leave that tax as it is and build on it. If there are merits for a site value tax, it is in the context of replacing commercial rates. I saw LPT discussed in committee with regard to the Finance Bill and the vacant home tax. That is being changed and the LPT will be built on but it does not address where there is dereliction and such issues. Site value tax has a role to play provided that commercial rates are also removed. I heard some of the comments last week and agree with the contention it is problematic.