Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 394: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he make a statement on the €200 tax on second homes; the tax collected since the introduction of this scheme; his views on an amendment to this scheme whereby persons would pay the second home tax on a graduated scale according to the size of their property; if he has had many submissions from the general public advocating a graduated tax; and if the €200 tax is due on small inherited cottages and large holiday homes. [41547/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Government has decided to broaden the revenue base of local authorities by introducing a charge on all non-principal private residences. The charge is payable by the owners of private rented accommodation, holiday homes and any other residential property that is not the owner's sole or main residence. The amount collected as at 16 November 2009 is €46,713,320. The approach of an essentially modest blanket charge of €200 per property was adopted as it has the advantage of being clear-cut and easily comprehensible. I have no plans to introduce a more complex graduated payment system.