Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 4, to delete lines 11 to 15.

This amendment deals with the administration of the charge collection system. We are effectively creating a new administrative system for the collection of the charge. There are revenue collectors and staff in local authorities but, as Deputy Burke stated, the moratorium on recruitment in local authorities and the general reduction in staff arising from the reduction in local government funds are such that local authorities may not be best equipped or sufficiently equipped administratively to collect the charge. I would have believed that, in order to collect the charge, the Minister would have considered the vehicle used by the Office of the Revenue Commissioners.

Although the Minister stated the local government system is efficiently set up to collect the charge, will he indicate how he can reconcile that with the reduction in staff and the lack of necessary information on private rented accommodation and holiday homes in each local authority area? If the discrepancy has been reconciled, will the Minister assure me that is the case before I comment further?

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