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

Under the Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Act 2013, councillors and councils were empowered to vary the rate of the property tax by 15% on a plus or minus basis. As the Minister knows, that legislation provides that the Revenue Commissioners must be informed and given notice of this by 30 September of the preceding year. The legislation also states that the regulations must be put in place by the Minister to allow for a period of consultation to be embarked upon with the representatives of the local authorities. It appears those regulations are on the Minister's desk. Will he publish those regulations immediately? Will he allow councils and councillors the authority to live up to their commitments to their electorate to vary the property tax downwards?

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