Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

When the local household charge was introduced it was a holding arrangement and was announced as such at the time and a broad-brush approach was taken to the exclusion of unfinished estates. Since then, based on the criteria to which I have referred, and in arrangement with local authorities, the estates have been addressed one-by-one. I am sorry Sinn Féin is disappointed that the improvements have been recorded but that is the case. The exclusion of 421 developments is considered fair in terms of one neighbour being required to pay property tax and another being exempt. As Deputy Michael McGrath said, fairness and consistency must be applied.

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