Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 141: To ask the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 130 of 16 June 2011, the classes of property that fall under the waiver scheme for commercial rates under the provisions of the Local Government (Rates) Act 1970, as referred to in the second part of his answer of 16 June 2011; if he or his predecessor have consented to any such schemes in the past seven years and if he has considered extending this scheme to classes or stages of business activity, for example, new businesses employing less than ten persons. [18039/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Local Government (Rates) Act 1970 does not specify the classes of property and of ratepayers that may be included in a rate waiver scheme. Such a scheme is made by a local authority as a reserved function and considerations as to the specified class or classes of property and of ratepayers to be included in the scheme are matters for the local authority. The making of such a scheme is subject to my consent as Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.

No rates waiver schemes have been consented to in the past seven years.

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.