Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Question 279: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his policy on amending the Valuation Act 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11076/12]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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As I mentioned in previous replies in relation to proposals to amend the Valuation Act 2001, significant work has already been done by the Commissioner of Valuation and by my officials on the formulation of a Bill to streamline and improve the valuation system. The Government has approved the Heads of an amending Bill and these are now with the Parliamentary Draftsman's Office for drafting of the Bill. Subject to such technical adjustments as may be found necessary in the course of drafting, the Bill will be published and processed as soon as possible as part of the Government's overall legislative programme.

The proposed provisions will modernise the valuation legislation and cater for such technical changes as have been found necessary in the light of practical experience with its operation since 2001. It will streamline a number of areas such as the operation of the system for appeals against valuations. Significantly, the proposed legislation will facilitate a speeding up of the national revaluation programme being undertaken by the Valuation Office. As part of this, the proposed legislation will contain provisions to allow new options for revaluation, including the introduction of a Self Assessment approach, accompanied by appropriate controls, and for outsourcing some of the work. I understand that schemes to pilot these options in two local authority areas are being drawn up by the Valuation Office in parallel with the drafting of the enabling legislation.