John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

I thank Deputies for their thoughtful contributions on the Bill. Its purpose is to give effect to the Government's budgetary decision to introduce an annual charge on non-principal private residences. The Bill sets the charge at a level of €200 and it will be payable, in the main, by owners of rental, holiday and vacant properties. The proceeds from the charge will provide a new source of income to city and county councils and the budgetary estimate of the annual revenue stream was €40 million. Experience of the operation of the charge will be the best guide to the actual revenue generated.

To revert to Deputy Burke, we are confident that, since we have incentivised local authorities to collect the charge, they will do so efficiently and effectively. In my conversations with local authority managers, who are enthusiastic about the provision, they-----

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