Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 252: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the situation following a proposal made by Irish hotels to introduce a 30% waiver on rates due on hotels and guest houses particularly given the slowness of revaluation of properties under the Valuation Act 2001; his views of this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42021/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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.

Under section 2 of the Local Government (Rates) Act 1970, a local authority may make a scheme providing for a waiver of some or all of the rates due by certain ratepayers. Any such scheme requires the consent of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. I have not received any proposal from a local authority for a waiver scheme in respect of the hotel sector.

However, I have urged local authorities to exercise restraint in setting the Annual Rate on Valuation (ARV) in this and previous years and they have responded positively in this regard. Across the 88 local authorities the average change of ARV from 2009 to 2010 shows a decrease of 0.62%. As part of a range of measures to aid economic recovery, I am clear on the need for continued reductions in commercial rates over the coming years.