Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

I dtús báire, regarding this legislation as well as a number of other pieces of legislation produced by the Government this week, there has been a protocol in this House that legislation is produced two weeks before it is brought before it in order to allow us and the public to look at that legislation, especially in the case where there is no pre-legislative scrutiny. In this instance, this Bill was produced last Thursday or Friday. The copyright Bill, which is coming up on Thursday, was produced on Friday. This affects all Deputies, not just me, in our ability to do our work. That time issue needs to be addressed.

This issue may have been flagged for years. Maybe the Minister will address that. In this instance, this is a cost-of-living measure because the Government is attacking those people who often cannot afford it. Someone owning their own home does not necessarily mean they have ready income or can afford this jump, even if it is only a modest or small amount, as the Minister has said. It may be a small amount if one stays within that threshold or band. The vast majority of homes in this city will jump substantially, however. They will jump up one, two and, in many instances, three bands. That is a huge increase for those people, especially for those who do not have additional funds or have already been hit hard by the cost-of-living crisis. The cost of fuel and food is substantially increasing, as is basically the cost of living in every way. The cost of material, if someone needs to fix up a home, has increased. In my area of Dublin 12, one of the auctioneers was boasting recently about the houses sold, although I am not giving out about the estate agents as they are only doing their job. For example, for anyone who knows Dublin 12 and Dublin City Council homes, a house on the Galteymore Road in Dublin 12 listed at €365,000 was sold for €490,000. That is an increase of more than 25% in the space of a year. It is not the only house advertised that is going that way. That is the scale of the jump. When the valuations happen, everyone in Dublin will be moved up two or three bands. That is the effect of it. While the Minister may say in his presentation that it will only be an extra €5 or €10, when you look at the bands, people will be jumping up quite a substantial amount. That is what people will be liable for.

Local authorities are not benefitting from this measure. They have never benefitted in this city. In the past, there was the equalisation fund where Dublin property owners paid - or deferred if they wished, but they ultimately paid - money which did not all go to Dublin City Council to provide services. In fact, it went to other councils throughout the country. The equalisation fund or system was gotten rid of. The increase has not happened since. The officials in Dublin City Council have been complaining continuously, even since the equalisation, that when the increase in funding comes, the grant from central government is reduced accordingly. It is hard luck if Dublin City Council receives an extra €20 million because the funds it will receive from the Government will be reduced by the same amount or more. That means the services it hoped to deliver from the property tax income cannot be delivered, particularly for houses, roads and community services. That is why the condition of some roads across the city is deteriorating and community services, and some positions which are vital to those services, are under threat. It is why Dublin City Council struggles to manage its budget when it comes to maintenance services. It does not have any additionality for the tenant in situ scheme. It does not have additional funding to deal with the shortfall from Government funding to purchase properties that are being advertised.

At this stage, or at any stage, this is a retrograde step. A different approach to taxation that does not include taxing the family home is needed.

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