It is unfortunate that there is no update.

The Deputy cannot come back in a second time.

I know that but I would like to get some answer.

The Minister of State said he would come back to the Deputy.

While the Taoiseach stated that the increase in local property tax for homeowners will be modest, when one looks at the graph published in the Irish Independent, it is clear the increases will be anything but. Simultaneously, he said during the Christmas period that it was his intention that local authorities would be able to retain all of the local property tax raised in their own areas. If he takes that course of action, there are a number of local authorities whose coffers will benefit. These include large counties like Dublin and, indeed, my own county, Meath. How will the Taoiseach square the circle, however, between what he calls modest increases for homeowners and his intention to allow local authorities to retain all the taxes raised? He has also committed the Government to meeting the budget shortfalls of less well-off counties. Is it the case that local authorities in counties such as Dublin and Meath will experience an increase in funding raised off the backs of homeowners in their own areas while central government funding is taken from them to be sent elsewhere?

I thank the Deputy. This is still a work in progress and no Government decision has been made yet. However, there are two things I can say. I appreciate that there is a feeling out there that because people's house values have increased to such an extent in the past couple of years, they will see a corresponding increase in their property tax rates. That will not happen. We will reform the bands and the rates to ensure any increase is modest. In many cases, there will be no increases at all while some may even see a reduction, depending on the value of their homes. None of these changes will take effect in 2019. Any changes will take effect in 2020 at the earliest. On local authorities being allowed to retain the money paid, many people wish to see the property taxes they pay stay in their counties. That makes sense to me. If we are to provide for that, we will have to continue to have an equalisation fund to ensure less well-off counties do not lose out. However, that could be funded from central taxation rather than the local property tax.