Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I note the points the Senator has made and the points on which we have differed during this constructive debate and take this opportunity to say that I expect some of the issues we have teased out in regard to child care, sports clubs and the concerns of the Irish Hotels Federation can be rectified on Report Stage and the legislation can be improved as a result. That is a good days work for the Oireachtas and I am grateful for the input.
I do not intend to reiterate the arguments I already made in regards to amendments Nos. 21-25, inclusive and 27-30, inclusive, in regard to occupier assisted valuation, other than to restate the view that the use of the term "self-assessment" has led to some confusion. Contributors to the debate on the issue expressed the view that rate payers in areas that have been revalued would be at a disadvantage by not being able to make a self-assessment. It was never the intention that self-assessment would allow rate payers to determine their own valuation. Valuation for rate purposes is a very different exercise and self-assessment in that context was always going to be within tight guidelines. The role of the Valuation Office is to assess liability, but not to collect any element of the rate.
I believe that by helping to avoid confusion by previous amendments to this Bill and by referring to it in future as "occupier assisted valuation", this term more accurately reflects what is happening in practice. I reiterate that in practice, the Valuation Office may request occupiers to assist in the valuation of their property. In order to facilitate this, the Valuation Office will provide them with indicative valuation levels, based on market evidence available to that office. Rate payers can propose a different value and this will be examined by the Valuation Office for correctness and an alternative valuation can be proposed by the commissioner if necessary.
The Bill, as currently amended, will now give occupiers who are providing valuations of their own properties the right to make representations where the valuation they submit is not accepted. This is a right they did not have in the original Bill. In the context of outsourcing, the modernisation of some provisions and honest efforts to improve matters for sports clubs and child care and in regard to making the appeals process more streamlined and allowing occupier assisted valuation, this Bill will lead to a better valuation system. I note Senator Byrne and I disagree on this, but I respect that difference.