John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Minister to comment on the three amendments concerning the transitional relief fund, the 50% rebate issue and how we propose to deal with the legacy or historical arrears on properties.

I wish to raise two other issues. First, we need to get into a debate here as to how, organisationally within government, we deal with the whole area of rates and whether this should be dealt with by one Department. This area crosses over into three or four different Departments at present and an argument might be made that it would be better for any regulations or legislation dealing with this area to be centrally located in one Department.

Second, legislation was introduced this year in the Seanad, the Valuation (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill. I know the Minister is aware of this Bill and is anxious to move it on. One issue in the Bill is the whole area of self-assessment and whether businesses that are now being revalued and given new valuations will be allowed to self-assess under the new legislation. It is something that is very pertinent. I am being asked that question by businesses that have new valuations and I would appreciate a response from the Minister.

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