Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his response. I take it from what he said that there would be no impediment from his office in cases where councils wish to vary the rate downwards for whatever reasons they see fit, based on consultations members have had with the electorate in recent months which culminated in their election. Could the Minister confirm that we will not have a repeat of last year's debacle when, having committed local property tax funding to local authorities, they had it taken from them? Could he confirm that the funding collected this year, or at least 80% of it, which was originally the intention of Government, will be forthcoming to local authorities where it is collected? I seek assurance that where the local property tax revenue exceeds the general purpose grant of the preceding year, no limits would be placed on the local authority in terms of the funds it has collected?

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