Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 142: To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the valuation process which values hotel rooms per square foot rather than by an assessment of associated income; if he will communicate the concerns of the hotel industry to the Valuation Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41296/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The basis of valuation for all commercial property, including hotels, is set out in Part 11 of the Valuation Act, 2001. In arriving at a valuation for any property, the Valuation Office valuer takes account of a range of factors such as location, rental evidence, trading data and the physical characteristics of the building (including floor area). All properties are compared with similar type properties in the same local authority area to ensure, in so far as it is possible, that they are all treated equally. Any individual ratepayer who has concerns about the valuation assessed on their property or any part thereof, including the method of calculation may, on payment of the statutory fee, appeal to the Commissioner of Valuation in the first instance and subsequently to the independent Valuation Tribunal as provided for in the Valuation Act, 2001. There is a further right of appeal to the superior courts on a point of law. I should point out that the Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the exercise of his duties under the Valuation Act, 2001 and I, as Minister for Finance, have no function in decisions in this regard.