John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The only answer I can give the Deputy is that the results of the review undertaken by the Minister and his officials on his behalf are imminent. Following that, a scheme for a more uniform system of differential rent will be introduced. That is the Government's proposal. I am not sure why the original proposal from the 2009 legislation has not yet become law. I will endeavour to find out. The Deputy cannot expect to ask about SI 214 of 2014 and expect me to know the answer off the top of my head but I will get the answer to that question. The review's results are imminent and the Minister has indicated he will act on it.

It is unfair that there is not a common yardstick for different types of income in the calculation of differential rents across local authorities and the Deputy is right to point that out. That is one of the main purposes of the review. This stems from the fact that the common scheme disappeared in 1986 and was replaced with individual rent setting by housing authorities. There are 31 of them now and there would have been many more in 1986. The purpose of the review that the Minister will act on is to ensure the same broad standards and system apply in the calculation of differential rents in Tipperary County Council, Kilkenny County Council and every other local authority in the country. I will revert directly to the Deputy on SI 214 of 2014.

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