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

I accept that the LPT was set in May 2013, but that valuation was high and many of the residents in Longboat Quay did not fully understand the problems or know what was about to happen. A large number of them are in a serious situation, have needed to spend money and are going through the inconvenience caused by what has happened at the estate, but the Minister is sticking by the mantra that the LPT is virtually set in stone. Previously, however, there were exemptions. At one stage, for example, houses that were in NAMA or had not been properly taken in charge were exempted. There is a precedent. It would be a small gesture if we were to make exemptions in cases like this one. Simply being told that a letter was issued in error has been a blow to the residents, who believed that there was some hope of relief. Turning around now is very unfair to them.

Come 2019, when the property tax is valued at a new rate, there will be a major change for everyone, not just those in Longboat Quay, because of rising values in the city. This issue will have to be addressed. Previously, the Minister stated that he would consider it when it arose, but that assumed he would be in power. This issue will affect many people because their valuations will be at higher rates than is the case currently.

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