John Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the acquisition cost guidelines, I am all for giving flexibility to the local authority sector and would like to see further flexibility given regarding the ceilings. It is true that the market price in a given local authority area may be above the ceiling. Should a local authority have to go back to the Department to get sanction in that regard? Is it not sufficient for the local authority to get the valuation, satisfy itself that the value is the market value and offer the figure accordingly? Why are we complicating the local authority process?