Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

39. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on whether a formalised appeals mechanism in relation to commercial rates would assist businesses in financial difficulty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24426/13]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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. The annual rate on valuation (ARV), which is applied to the valuation of each property as determined by the Valuation Office to obtain the amount payable in rates, is decided by the elected members of each Local Authority in the annual budget and its determination is a reserved function of the Authorities.

The valuation placed on a property by the Commissioner of Valuation can be appealed to the Valuation Tribunal. Both the Valuation Office and the Valuation Tribunal come under the aegis of my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin TD.

I understand that some Local Authorities have arrangements in place to allow businesses to pay their rates in monthly instalments rather than in two annual payments, which is likely to assist cash-flow for businesses. The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government has committed to continuing to impress on Local Authorities the need to maintain and enhance efficiency measures with a view to minimising rates and other charges to business. Local Authorities have responded positively to the request to continue to exercise restraint in setting commercial rates for 2013. 87 out of the 88 rating authorities have either reduced their ARV or kept it the same as in 2012 (with that one increase arising due to a technical adjustment and legal requirement following the extension of a town boundary). The average nationwide decrease is 0.34%, following similar decreases in previous years of 0.31% in 2012, 0.64% in 2011 and 0.62% in 2010.