Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I note the Minister did not express confidence in the scheme as it is operating at the moment. Thanks to work being done by the Business Post, it has been reported that last year €21.5 million was owed on vacant sites. In that same year, €21,000 was collected. By any standards, the system is not working.

The local authorities simply do not have the resources or personnel to do the follow-up work. The figures speak for themselves.

A solicitor and tax specialist who is experienced in this area has been in touch with the Minister's Department on several occasions with a proposal for how a new system might operate. That system would be based on self-assessment but would include penalties unless people registered their properties. Such people would have to produce a certificate at the point of sale of the property. I ask the Minister to consider such a system.

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