Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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Question 261: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will undertake to ensure that any review or re-rating of the commercial rates system planned by him will prioritise local authorities in the Border counties based on the unique competitive challenges faced in these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7246/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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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 determination of the annual rate on valuation, which is applied to a property valuation to calculate rates, is a decision taken locally by the elected members of a local authority in their annual budget. While matters relating to rates are kept under regular consideration in my Department, I have no immediate plans to conduct any review of the rating system generally.