Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I indicated on Committee Stage of this legislation that I was favourably disposed to what Deputy Fleming is trying to achieve with these amendments, which is to have revision cases concluded within six months of receipt. I undertook on Committee Stage to propose an amendment on Report Stage that will achieve what the Deputy intends. As the Deputy pointed out, there is a weakness in the current legislation and in what is proposed in the Bill as it stands. A revision case must be concluded within six months of its assignment to a revision manager but there is no limit on the period within which a revision case is to be assigned to that manager.

In the amendments I propose, I take some practical considerations into account. I am not breaking the six-month period into two months and four months, as a period of 40 days must be allowed for representations. If the representation period had to be taken from the four-month period, the Deputy would appreciate that it would leave very little time for the work of the valuer on the revision case. I am also stipulating that the six-month period starts from the receipt of a valid application, accompanied by the prescribed fee, etc. The clock should not run if the application is flawed in some way.

Additionally, I am providing that this new six-month deadline can be commenced separately from the rest of the Bill. This is just a practical measure to allow the Valuation Office to bring all current revision cases up to date in the interim and make the necessary operational changes to be in a position to implement this provision on an ongoing basis. The Deputy will accept there will be a number of changes that the Valuation Office will have to put in place as a result of the passage of this legislation. Deputy Fleming's proposals are sensible and we should take the spirit of them through amendments Nos. 4 and 11.

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