Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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433. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the estimated cost to the Exchequer due to revenue lost in rates and non-rates by local authorities due to Covid-19. [15741/20]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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In order to support the local government sector, my Department continues to keep local authority income, expenditure and cash flow generally under review and will work with all local authorities on both collective and individual issues arising.

The County and City Management Association (CCMA) has estimated the loss of non-rates income for 2020 to be in the region of €91 million. This is under consideration by my Department as part of the revised estimates under preparation.

It is not possible to accurately calculate the loss of income from commercial rates in 2020 at this stage in the year, due to the range of payment plans available to ratepayers and the variety of payment patterns from different sectors of ratepayers. This is coupled with the fact that the second moiety has only been due since 1 July and is payable until the end of the year. Furthermore, Government is considering the treatment of rates for the remainder of 2020, in line with the commitment in the programme for Government.

I intend to continue supporting measures taken by my Department to assist local authorities with the financial difficulties they are experiencing since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.