David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 86: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, further to Parliamentary Question No. 8 of 17 November 2011, the further progress which has been made in drafting legislation and consideration of outsourcing and self-valuation options to expedite the national revaluation programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3735/12]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As I explained in response to previous Questions, the revaluation programme which began in November 2005 in the greater Dublin area is ongoing, the current emphasis being in the Dublin City Council area which commenced last May and which involves the valuation of approximately 25,000 properties.

As part of the roll-out of the revaluation programme to other local authority areas, the Commissioner of Valuation signed the Valuation Order on 12th December, 2011 to commence the revaluation of the Waterford City, Waterford County and Dungarvan Town Council areas. He has also advanced the formal consultations with Limerick City and Limerick County Council to the stage where he will shortly be in a position to sign valuation orders for those areas.

The Commissioner had indicated that, with the intention of speeding up the revaluation work, two pilot schemes were to be undertaken on outsourcing some of the work and exploring the possibility of introducing a self-assessment scheme. The enabling provisions to allow for the start-up of these schemes were included in legislative proposals approved by Government on 6th December, 2011 and as a consequence, planning for their initiation is currently underway in the Valuation Office. As a further means of speeding up the revaluation generally and in particular to accelerate the capture of data on properties throughout the country, in advance of the roll-out to particular areas, a dedicated unit is being set up within the Office.

As I mentioned previously, significant work has already been done on the formulation of a Bill to streamline and improve the valuation system and the Heads of a Bill, having been approved by Government, are now with the Parliamentary Draftsman's Office for drafting of the Bill.