Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the estimated number of local authority houses currently rented; his plans to exempt this category from the proposed property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49571/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The number of local authority houses let as of 31 December 2011 was 125,958, which is the most recent data available. Further comprehensive statistical information on housing is available on my Department’s website at www.environ.ie.

An independently-chaired Inter-Departmental Expert Group was established to consider the structures and modalities for an equitable local property tax to replace the household charge.

The Group submitted its report to me and it would not be appropriate to comment at this point, pending Government’s consideration of the report and the associated issues. It will then be a matter for Government to decide on the exact details of implementation, including considerations related to exemptions and waivers, taking into account the modalities involved.

The Government has decided that the Local Property Tax will be collected and administered by the Revenue Commissioners.