John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

A charge of €200 per annum is being introduced for all non-principal private residences. It will be levied and collected by local authorities and, on a conservative estimate, will yield €40 million per annum. The revenue stream will be used to contribute to the Exchequer funding to local authorities for operational costs. Liability for payment of the charge will lie with property owners and not with the occupiers.

I intend to ask the Government to approve legislation to give effect to this measure in the near future so the charge can be applied from 2009 and the House will have an opportunity at that date to discuss its details.

On the wider issue of local government reform, I have just concluded a process of public consultation on the reform options set out in the Green Paper. I am very pleased with the wide range of responses received. I am now considering those responses and am working, as a key priority, to finalise policy decisions in the Government's White Paper.

The measures I have outlined show the Government has responded well in these difficult times by taking immediate action to protect the public finances while at the same time ensuring environmental and economic sustainability and protecting the most vulnerable in society.

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