Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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572. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form the total amount of moneys collected by each county council for commercial rates and commercial water rates in 2012, 2013 and 2014; and if he will provide a list of the uncollected amounts. [5553/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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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 for each property determined by the Valuation Office to obtain the amount payable in rates, is decided by the elected members of each local authority during the annual budget process.

Rates income data are published by local authorities in their Annual Financial Statements. 2012 is the latest year for which audited local authority Annual Financial Statement data are available .

The amounts of commercial rates collected, as reported by local authorities in their individual audited financial statements for 2012, are set out in the reply to Question No.1577 of 17 September 2014. It should be noted that this income may include arrears collected in addition to current year rates income.

Similarly, the amounts relating to commercial water charges collected, as reported by local authorities in their individual audited financial statements for 2012, are set out in the reply to Question No.1578 of 17 September 2014. It should be noted that this income may include arrears collected in addition to current year water charges income. From 2001 to end 2013 the provision of water services was the responsibility of the City and County Councils. In some cases Town and Borough Councils entered into agreements with the relevant City or County Councils to provide water services including billing functions. As with all local charges, the invoicing and collection of amounts due is a matter for the local authority concerned to manage in light of prevailing circumstances and in accordance with normal accountancy procedures.

A total of €145,110,593 was owed to local authorities in respect of unpaid commercial water charges and €430,814,183 in respect of unpaid rates at the end of 2012, the latest year for which full audited data is available. A local authority breakdown of the information requested in relation to uncollected amounts is set out in the table below.