Commercial rates revaluation update
Deputy Troy seeks a long-overdue reply on revaluation driving sharp commercial rates increases. The Tánaiste apologises and says the reply will issue that day, adding that heads of a commercial rates Bill were cleared by Cabinet.
Exactly six weeks ago, I raised in a Topical Issue debate the subject of the revaluation process that is under the remit of the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality. The Tánaiste's colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, took the debate in her absence and the Tánaiste was to revert to me. Six weeks later I am still waiting for an update on the revaluation process that is under way in a number of provincial towns across the State. It is leading to increases in commercial rates of up to 400%. Will the Tánaiste's office finally respond to the questions I raised in the Topical Issue debate? Will the Tánaiste also indicate when Members might expect the consolidation of the commercial rates legislation to come before the Dáil? When that legislation comes before the Dáil, will the revaluation process that is currently under way by the Department of Justice and Equality's Valuation Office cease to exist?
