Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There has been a tenfold increase in staff numbers since the Senator inquired some years ago.

We are very cognisant of the administrative changes within the Valuation Office. There has been a reorganisation of work teams, an extensive development of a computer system and the development of an integrated database for both the revision and revaluation programmes. The whole objective of the Valuation Office, with its increased staff and changes in work practices, is to be much more customer focused.

Senators have suggested that we include an inability to pay clause, but that would effectively increase the burden on other ratepayers and taxpayers. We do not want a situation to arise whereby the net effect of this Bill is that the total amount collected will decrease because that hole would then have to be plugged by other taxpayers. Once we start doing that, either selecting certain groups of people who are excluded or exempting people on the basis of an inability to pay, we are going down a very slippery slope. However, if serious amendments are tabled which suggest that such a clause could be included without reducing the overall amount collected, then we will examine them, although I maintain that this would be difficult to achieve.

As Senator van Turnhout has said, the thrust of the Bill is to minimise exemptions so that there is a wider base and, as the economy recovers, so too will the total amounts that can be raised. We go into our deliberations in this House, on Committee and Report Stages, with an open mind, knowing that we probably have hearts and minds to win between now and the end of the process. The Bill will be greatly helped by a thorough engagement by Senators on Committee Stage, and I look forward to that, as does the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin. This Bill has taken so long to get to the House and has been in process for many years. We now have the opportunity to get it right. Certainly, if good ideas come from Senators, especially those who are former members of local authorities, we will be open to considering them.