Deirdre Clune (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Brian Hayes. I want to discuss the local property tax. People who live in properties or estates must pay a management fee and the local property tax. The issue of paying twice for local services has been raised with me on at least three occasions over the past number of weeks.

I wish to point out, and I am sure the Minister of State will do the same, that anyone who lives in an apartment complex pays management fees on the entire structure - that is, for internal lighting, lifts and so on, as well as for the external space, which has roads and lighting. Inhabitants must make a contribution and pay a maintenance fee. In some housing estates there is a combination of apartments and houses but all of the inhabitants must pay a management fee.

I am aware the local property tax is deemed to go towards local services which may not be in the immediate vicinity of the development but could be in the greater local area. It raises the question of the need for local authorities to take in charge local housing estates as many of them are not taken in charge. If they are paying management fees do the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and the Minister for Finance have plans to ensure that councils can move forward in taking in charge these housing estates because the residents consider that as they are paying the local property tax they are at a disadvantage compared to their neighbours? That is an issue that should be progressed and it should be established that there is a norm for everybody. For too long I have witnessed in my area councils not availing of the opportunity to take in charge housing estates, perhaps, because the developer did not propose it but they should be more proactive in that area. The roads and the internal services in those housing estates can deteriorate and a point is reached where the taxpayer cannot take it on. It becomes a vicious circle. To answer those people, do we have a plan and, if so, where is it, given that they consider they are paying twice for local services and that they are a disadvantage vis-à-vis their neighbours?