Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

After much campaigning on the plight of the residents of Longboat Quay, it was thought that they had at least achieved some respite when the Revenue Commissioners wrote to them accepting valuations in the lowest band for their local property tax, or LPT, liability. Last week, however, they were shocked to receive letters from Revenue reversing this decision. Can the Minister for Finance explain why? At the core of the issue are families and individuals who have done nothing wrong but find themselves living in homes that are dangerous. The fact is that the homes are valueless at this point in time. The Revenue Commissioners appeared to have seen sense and adopted a sensible, humane approach by reducing the LPT to the lowest level. Frankly, it was obscene that these families were asked to pay anything, but the Revenue Commissioners at least showed some willingness to use common sense and the flexibility permitted to them to reduce the band. However, the bureaucratic wheels turned and a second letter was sent only this week to the residents.

The language in that letter is shocking. According to it, the letter of 20 November "incorrectly indicated that the declared valuation for your property could be reduced and I wish to apologise for any inconvenience caused". This bureaucratic reply does not address the issue at hand. It is unfair to ask these families or those in similarly affected complexes, such as Riverwalk Court, to pay the local property tax, LPT. To tell them that their bills would be reduced was a welcome step, but that has been taken away by the Revenue letter. This incompetence is stunning.

Leaving all of that aside, we must address the core issue, that is, why people who have been through so much are still being asked to pay a tax that is clearly not set at the value of their homes. There are probably only a few days left in which to fix this problem if the Minister insists that it is a legal issue. Will he confirm that, due to the cynical postponement of the next valuation date for LPT, the residents are stuck in their current band for a further three years? Can the Longboat Quay complex or other addresses be added to the list of estates that are exempt from LPT?

After much campaigning last year on the residents' plight, we have come to this. That they are being asked to pay the full LPT is mad. There should be exemptions in such cases. Previously, there were exemptions. At first, the residents were given the indication that exceptions would be made, but it now appears that this leeway has been reversed. Will the Minister explain the reasons?

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