Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In fact, commercial rates income represented over 33% of income or €1.5 billion to the sector in 2012. All rates collected within a local authority area are spent exclusively on delivering the public services required locally to create the environment in which businesses can prosper. Locally elected members adopt the annual rate on valuation in order to provide the required level of services that they consider necessary and appropriate in an area.

Commercial rates legislation spans multiple statutes, some of which date back as far as 1838. It is a complex area, in respect of which a significant body of case law has been established.

Local authorities and ratepayers are, in the main, familiar with and generally accepting of the operation and practice of the rating system.

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