Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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114. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce a new business rates model. [20191/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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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 Acts 2001-2015. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority.

The principle of local authorities levying rates based on an independent valuation is well established and I have no plans to change this. However, the legislative basis for the levying of rates is spread over a number of enactments, some dating back to the 19th century. I have asked my Department to develop proposals for the preparation of a consolidated Rates Bill to modernize and consolidate the legislation in this area.