Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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599. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department has changed the method or the calculation for persons who are receiving a social welfare payment and have their local property tax deducted at source; if so, the implications of this for such persons; if it has a resulted in an increase in the amount of local property tax being paid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3183/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Local Property Tax is now deducted over 50 calendar weeks, rather than 52. This change was necessary as a safeguard to afford customers the full benefit of the Christmas bonus and the double week payments and ensures that these additional payments are not absorbed by an automatic Local Property Tax deduction. It was also necessary to ensure that customer’s deductions would not reduce their weekly personal rate payment below the level of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance personal rate as a result of these additional payments.

This change has not increased the overall annual amount of tax liability for such customers.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.