Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 1454: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, in view of increasingly difficult trading conditions in the hotel sector, if he will explore alternative sources of funding for local authorities so as to reduce the level of their dependency on commercial rates levied on hotels, in order to mitigate loss of employment in the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32147/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Act 2001. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority.

The Report of the independent Local Government Efficiency Review Group, published in mid July, includes 106 recommendations for efficiency and other savings of €511m for the local government sector to be attained in the short, medium and long terms. These savings are comprised of €346m in efficiencies and €165m in improved cost recovery and revenue raising. The Group's focus was on removing costs in the local government sector and to ensure that efforts are directed towards improving and extending the delivery of local public services in the most efficient and effective way. The Report's findings and recommendations will be considered as necessary by Government in the appropriate policy and financial contexts.

As recommended in the Report, I propose to establish an implementation group with an independent chairperson to oversee implementation of relevant recommendations.