Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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691. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he has had discussions with other Departments with a view to reducing commercial rates on city and town centre businesses in order to revitalise core urban centres, which are frequently losing out to edge-of-town shopping; his plans to consider such measures in conjunction with his Cabinet colleagues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5959/18]

John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, 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 to 2015.

Commercial rates form an important element of the funding of all local authorities. However, the legislative basis for the levying of rates is spread over a number of enactments, some dating back to the 19th century. Many of the provisions are outdated and not suitable for business trends in the modern era. My Department has developed legislative proposals to modernise and consolidate the legislation governing commercial rates. Among the measures included in the General Scheme of the Bill are provisions to allow a local authority to introduce rates alleviation schemes to support the implementation of policy objectives, including: local economic and community plans; objectives contained in Development Plans and Local Area Plans; and national planning policies.

In this regard, the Government has approved the drafting of a Rates Bill. The General Scheme of the Bill is currently with the Attorney General’s office for drafting, with a view to its introduction as soon as possible.