Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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80. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to reduce new businesses' (details supplied) commercial rates or to exempt them from commercial rates; if there are plans to increase the ease of setting up such new businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16261/21]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Local authorities are required by law 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.  The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority.  The annual rate on valuation (ARV) is decided by the elected members of each local authority as part of the annual budget and its determination is a reserved function. The ARV is applied to the valuation for each property as determined by the Valuation Office, to obtain the amount payable in rates. 

Local authorities play a key role in providing a range of business supports and advice to those wishing to establish new businesses.  Among the supports provided are rates grant and incentive schemes. As with all local charges, the invoicing and collection of rates, and the adoption of rate grants and incentive schemes are a matter for the local authority concerned to manage in the light of prevailing local circumstances. 

With regard to the availability of remote working hubs, €5m was allocated in Budget 2021 for the development of such hubs; this is a matter for the Minister for Rural and Community Development.