Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Perhaps the words I used the last day might have been clearer. I said that when Revenue received a new valuation on a self-assessment basis, it could not eliminate the tax liability completely but that it could reduce it significantly in accordance with the law. An example of a significant reduction would be a change to a €70 or €90 property tax level, depending on whether the local authority in question has used its discretion to reduce the figure by 15%. I have no plans to introduce amending legislation dealing with the local property tax. In the course of every year the Department of Finance and Revenue have oversight of the legislation governing tax collection. If the Deputy were to make a submission to Revenue asking it to re-examine this matter, it might look on it favourably. There is an argument that if a family are in occupation of a house that is their principal primary residence, it has some value. If it is being used as a residence, it does not stand up to reason to say it has no value.

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