Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his response. While I do not disagree with much of what he said, nobody could argue that people, if not paying on the double, are not paying extra.

Yes, people bought houses and apartments realising that they had entered into a contract to pay management fees, but when they did that there was no local property tax. In addition, there was and continues to be a shortage of family houses so for many people, effectively, the only places they could live were apartments and smaller houses in managed estates. There should be some type of acknowledgement and relief given to those who pay management fees.

I will withdraw recommendations Nos. 16 and 17 but I will press recommendation No. 18. I appreciate the Minister's response. I am glad that he is looking at phasing in some type of deduction for rental income in respect of the local property tax. It is sensible. The money is not available to do it now but there is an agreement in principle that it would be done. Regarding the valuation date, a Minister should be given the power to vary that from time to time. It could happen the other way, God forbid, and there could be another global crisis or crash. There are various things outside our control but the Minister should be given the leeway to be able to vary that, and the purpose of recommendation No. 15 is to permit it.

That is all I wish to say on those points, but I will press some of the recommendations.