John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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104. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of local authorities that have voted to reduce local property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45865/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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Effective from 1 July 2014, local authorities may vary the rate of Local Property Tax (LPT) in their administrative area for the following year by up to 15% of the basic rate of the Tax. The power to vary LPT rates has been given to local authorities to further increase their autonomy. Elected members are already responsible for finalising the annual budget of the local authority – it is a reserved function for them – and the power to vary LPT rates will enable them to directly influence the level of LPT income they have to meet their expenditure requirements in the future.The decision to vary must be taken by resolution of the Council and must be notified to the Revenue Commissioners by 30 September in order to apply for the following year. For 2015, 14 local authorities availed of the opportunity to reduce the basic rate of LPT by the levels set out in the table below. The other 17 local authorities did not vary the LPT rate for 2015.