Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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Question 227: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to ensure all property-related revenues are part of the income stream of local government. [14184/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support for Ireland under its fiscal consolidation measures commits to the introduction of a property tax for 2012 and to an increase in the property tax for 2013. The Programme reflects the need, in the context of the State's overall financial position, to put the funding of locally delivered services on a sound financial footing, improve accountability and better align the cost of providing services with the demand for such services.

In light of the complex issues involved, a property tax, requiring a comprehensive property valuation system, would take time to introduce and accordingly, to meet the revenue measure in the EU/IMF Programme, I have already indicated my intention to introduce a household charge in 2012.

It is my intention that the revenues from the charge will support the provision of locally based services and will in turn reduce local government's requirement for Exchequer support for the funding of such services.

I will be bringing proposals to Government in the near future on the legislative and administrative requirements necessary to implement the household charge.