Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will make my case pretty short and snappy. I asked that the Minister outline the position regarding the issue of the local property tax. We know there was to be a review of the local property tax last year but we are now long past that point. I have seen some circulars from the Minister of State's colleagues and party on the issue. I am conscious local elections will be held in 2019 and that local communities want to retain as much taxes, income and revenue as possible in their own areas, which is only right and proper. I am also conscious that I live in south County Dublin, one of the counties with the highest compliance with respect to the local property tax.

The local property tax is an exorbitant tax and I reiterate my opposition to it. It is not a correct or fair tax. I will cite again the case of a neighbour, a widow, who pays the same amount in property tax as I do. That is ridiculous. She has no income other than her pension. She sought to have some changes made in that respect but did not get support. We have a tax on people in their homes. This is a woman who has lived in her home for nearly 40 years. She is being told it is too big for her, that she has an empty nest and that she should get out. It is grossly offensive. People should be allowed to stay in their communities. They have worked hard, paid their taxes, built their homes and they are entitled to stay in them.

I recognise the need for local government finance and for local authorities to have funding over and above commercial rates. However, for far too long this issue has been put on the back-burner. We were promised a review. I hope the Minister of State will be able to read into the record what the Minister has said. There is no point in drip-feeding this for another month or two because it might be more appropriate in the context of an election. The people want to know the Government's intention regarding the property tax and, at a minimum in terms of certainty, they want to know if the local property tax will be the same in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 as it is today. They need certainty about this. I would appreciate the Minister of State's assistance in this matter.