Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Members who have spoken will be pleased to hear I agree in principle with them on some points made on the valuation process. In my contribution on Second Stage I indicated that valuation should come under one Department rather than two. It is regrettable that is the case currently. Committee Stage of the Valuation (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill will come before the House early in the new year.

It has been stated that in many instances towns have lower rates than counties. What will happen in Waterford based on the Minister’s proposal is that the rate will be harmonised downwards so one will have the lowest rate. I commend the Minister on providing the finance in order to do that. The downwards not upwards harmonisation will put people on a level playing field. Senator Cullinane and others have called for higher rates for larger industries and businesses. That has happened in many instances through the revaluation process. Dublin and Waterford are the only two counties that have been completed to date. I fully admit that the increases outlined by the Valuation Office will present major difficulties in particular for small shops in the retail sector. Many valuations are under appeal. In other cases valuations for small businesses have gone down but we do not hear about them. We only hear about the ones that have gone up. It is understandable that people are concerned about increases.

The Minister is doing everything possible in the rates area in which he has jurisdiction to reduce rates downwards. It is a matter for each council to decide as councils have autonomy and it is up to them to decide where to allocate additional moneys. It will probably be the case that we will have a major debate on rates during Committee Stage in the new year, and in particular, on the valuation process which is taking place. Given that Dublin and Waterford are the only counties that are completed I expect we will hear much more when the rest of the country has been completed and people will find themselves in difficulty in large cities and towns. That is a debate for another Bill in the valuation process.