Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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48. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the position regarding the commercial rates Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8458/19]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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The Local Government (Rates) Bill 2018 is currently before the Oireachtas and completed Second Stage in the Dáil recently.  Given that the current legislative basis for the levying and collection of rates is spread over a number of enactments, some dating back to the 19th century, the Bill contains proposals for modernisation of the legislation governing commercial rates.  Included in the provisions are:

- the removal of the requirement for ratepayers to pay their annual bill in two instalments (moieties) and provision to allow ratepayers to pay rates by instalments or a payment plan agreed with the local authority;

- schemes for the abatement of rates on vacant properties;

- power for local authorities to introduce rates waiver schemes to support local and national policy objectives;

- the levying of interest on unpaid and overdue rates; and

- the rendering of unpaid rates to be a charge on relevant property.

Additionally, further measures could not be finalised for inclusion in the Bill as published but are currently being examined with a view to their introduction at Committee Stage.  These include:

- the issuing, by a local authority, of a Rates Compliance Certificate when a ratepayer has discharged the rates liability or has entered into a payment plan, and the introduction of a requirement to have a Rates Compliance Certificate in order to obtain certain statutory licences;

- addressing the powers for local authorities to take legal action through the Courts to pursue unpaid rates; and

- amending the provisions of section 56 of the Valuation Acts 2001-2015 relating to a Rates Limitation Order in the year following a revaluation of a local authority, in order to maintain the same level of rates income for the local authority in question.

The Bill is a key priority of my Department and when enacted, will facilitate more effective and streamlined rates collection procedures.