Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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401. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he is satisfied with the current staffing levels of both the Valuation Office and the Valuation Tribunal, regarding the extensive workload on both offices, and the consequences for the task of setting valuations for counties other than the small number currently being examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22459/15]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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There has been significant progress made by the Valuation Office in the national revaluation programme which aims to revalue all commercial property in the State for the first time in 150 years. The task of valuing c. 146,000 properties is significant as is the process of engagement with occupiers of properties who wish to make representations on their proposed valuations or to appeal their valuations to the Commissioner of Valuation or to the Valuation Tribunal. To date revaluation has been completed in the four Dublin local authority areas, in Waterford and in Limerick. These revaluations represent 1/3 of the number of commercial properties but over half of the valuation base. From a slow start, the revaluation programme has built a momentum and 2/3 of the revaluations have been completed between 2011 and 2014. This progress has primarily been achieved with the current staffing levels.

The Deputy will be aware that the Valuation (Amendment) Act 2015 was recently enacted and I signed the Order to commence this piece of legislation on 8 June 2015. This Act will allow the Commissioner of Valuation to outsource revaluation work and to value areas using Occupier Assisted Valuation. It also streamlines the appeals process, removing the appeal to the Commissioner of Valuation, and extending the period to make representations on proposed valuations. These measures will help to accelerate progress on the revaluation programme. 

I am aware that the acceleration of the revaluation programme has increased the volume of appeals going to the Valuation Tribunal and additional staff were assigned to support the Valuation Tribunal on a temporary basis. Under their delegated sanction from DPER to incur expenditure in 2015, both bodies may fill vacancies up to Assistant Principal level within their approved pay bills.  My Department also liaises with the Valuation Office and the Valuation Tribunal on workloads arising from the reform and overall staffing levels are kept under review as necessary.