Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister has provided detailed and specific information on the arrangements. I ask if he can say why the Revenue Commissioners intend to use call centres on a contract basis to help with this work. Will people be asked for their telephone numbers in order to receive phone calls? The private sector will need to amend its payroll systems in mid-year to take account of this payment. Will this result in a cost to the private sector employers? It can take up to eight weeks to arrange for deduction at source for social welfare recipients who wish to pay council rent. The timescale will be very tight.

The big issue was alluded to by his colleague, Deputy Olivia Mitchell. She said that if people in Dublin realise they are paying five times more than people in Donegal for the same service they will just stop paying it. Deputy Dowds of the Labour Party said he wants at least 80% of the funds collected in Dublin to be retained in Dublin. He said the majority of houses in Donegal sold last year were sold for less than €100,000. Both Fine Gael and the Labour Party seem to be picking on Donegal with its low valuations. They resent the fact that people in some counties will have a lower rate because their houses are valued at a lower value. This is an anti-Dublin tax, an anti-urban area tax. The Minister's party colleagues are clearly reflecting that issue. Will the Minister consider some amendments along those lines to the Bill?

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