Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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Question 139: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if commercial rates may be paid through direct debit on a weekly or monthly basis; if he issues guidelines to councils on this method of payment; if not, his plan to bring in guidelines that could be issued to local councils to facilitate businesses with this option; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16039/11]

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 levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority.

Commercial rates are legally payable in two moieties; the first moiety and arrears are payable on the date of the making of the rate and the second moiety is payable on 1 July. In practice local authorities facilitate payments of commercial rates by instalments including by direct debit.

I recognise that these are difficult economic times for many businesses and I will continue to keep all matters relating to rates under regular consideration in my Department.