Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 872: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on introducing a rates rebate scheme for sports clubs that have a significant community involvement in order that they will benefit similarly to sports clubs in Northern Ireland where they are in receipt of such a scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27291/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Valuation Act 2001 provides that community halls such as clubhouses which are not licensed to sell alcohol and whose facilities are not used primarily for profit or gain are not rateable. The Act further provides that where a club is licensed to sell alcohol under the Registration of Clubs Act 1904 the premises occupied by that club is registered and rateable.

The sale of alcohol is a commercial activity and club premises so licensed are competing with other commercial premises. The effect of removing any category of rateable property from the valuation base would be to increase the rates base on other ratepayers. Where a community hall or a sports club ceases to be licensed for the sale of alcohol it will no longer be rateable. There are no plans at present to amend the valuation legislation as it applies to voluntary and community sports clubs.