Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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617. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to review policy in relation to the way business rates are applied to renewable energy projects with a view to incentivise and support renewable energy projects to help Ireland meet its climate change obligations and the renewable energy targets that have been set; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33064/20]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the performance of his functions under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2020 and the setting of valuations for rating purposes, including those for renewable energy project related properties, is his sole responsibility. As Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, I have no function in decisions in this regard.

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 Commissioner under the Valuation Acts. Commercial rates are the single biggest source of income for local authorities, amounting to 29% of their overall revenue.

The Annual Rate on Valuation (ARV), which is applied to the valuation of each property determined by the Valuation Office to obtain the amount payable in rates, is decided by the elected members of each local authority in the annual budget and its determination is a reserved function.