Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 847: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the fact that the household charge is being forced upon persons by saying that it will go towards paying local authorities; if he will confirm that if next year and the following years, this cost is transferred into a full blown property tax that the tax will stay in the county in which it is collected; if he will give an absolute assurance of this and that the money will not go to central Government to pay off bankers debts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18429/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The household charge is a local authority charge, the proceeds of which are being used to fund vital local services in our communities, including planning and development, fire and emergency services, public parks, open spaces and leisure amenities, and maintenance and cleaning of streets and street lighting.

I have established an Inter-Departmental Group on Property Tax to consider the structures and modalities for an equitable valuation based property tax. The Group will complete its work and make recommendations to me shortly. Following consideration of the Group's recommendations, I will bring proposals to Government on the full property tax as soon as possible. It will then be a matter for the Government to decide on the structure and modalities of the full property tax.