Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I commend Deputy Darragh O'Brien for bringing this Bill forward. It is a very practical piece of legislation and is very positive. It could make a real difference to a significant number of people, perhaps as many as 500,000. In the census of 2016 there were 206,000 apartments in the country, and a number of other types of multi-use and terraced buildings that would fall under this area as well. It would be very significant. Local property tax funds very important services within our towns and communities, such as public lighting, roads, footpaths, maintaining green areas and providing public parking. It is regrettable that as soon as the local property tax came in - with the aim of enhancing the existing services provided by councils - much of the grant that local councils were getting from central government was taken away. Local property tax funding was not increased funding to help support those necessary services, but instead replaced that funding. Local councils were stymied in terms of the extra work they wanted to do.

Examples have been given of different areas within our constituencies. There are quite a number of such developments in my area, particularly in Newbridge. Millfield is an area I have spoken regularly about, in terms of the issues and challenges it has faced. Once there is a management company in place in a particular area that area cannot be taken in charge by a local authority. If there is an estate which is only partly covered by a management company the whole estate cannot be taken in charge while the company is functioning. It causes many problems.

As Deputy Darragh O'Brien said, this is one of three Bills Fianna Fáil has introduced which seek to support those living in apartments and multi-owner developments.

Too often, owners and residents of multi-unit developments have been absolutely forgotten about and left behind. We want to ensure that we have a fair property tax system that is equitable. We do not want people to have to pay double for the same services, which is what is happening. The Fianna Fáil Party committed to ensuring that there is no increase in the local property tax for homeowners and that a fairer more equitable system is put in place when the review is finalised and the report finished.

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