Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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107. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans with regard to changes to the local property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31407/21]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government - “Our Shared Future” – includes a commitment to bring forward legislation in relation to the Local Property Tax on the basis of fairness and that most homeowners will face no increase in their LPT liability. In addition there is a commitment to bring new homes, which are currently exempt from the LPT, into the taxation system.

Accordingly, the Government has given its approval for the General Scheme of the Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2021 which has been published. The Bill is being drafted to give effect to a package of measures addressing the Programme commitments and related matters.

The measures proposed for this Bill will fulfil the Programme for Government commitments in this area and will secure the future of the Local Property Tax. Properties that were previously exempt or falling outside the tax will now be brought into scope. The Government has decided to both cut the rate of the tax and widen the bands to make the changes affordable. This means that the majority of homeowners are likely to see either a decrease or no change. Where increases arise, the majority will be a single band (€90), notwithstanding the significant increases we have seen in property values since 2013. The overall structure of the tax, which is broadly understood and accepted, is being maintained.

I look forward to publication in due course of the Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2021.