Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 415: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is in a position to quantify the amount of commercial rates arrears owing to the individual local authorities for 2010 and for the first six months of 2011; the percentage that this represents of the overall rates bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27408/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Detailed information in relation to the amount of commercial rates owed to local authorities for 2009, sourced from audited Annual Financial Statements (AFS), is set out in the following table. Commercial rates arrears at the year end in 2009 accounted for approximately 15% of the total collectable rates. The total collectable rates for 2009 comprised accumulated rates arrears carried forward from 2008 plus rates accrued during 2009 minus any rates write-offs or waivers for 2009. Audited information is not yet available for 2010 or 2011. The audit of the 2010 Annual Financial Statements (AFS) is scheduled for completion in March 2012.

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. As with all local charges, the invoicing and collection of due amounts is a matter for the local authority concerned to manage in the light of prevailing local circumstances and in accordance with normal accountancy procedures.

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