Revenue to collect property tax

The Cabinet at its final meeting before the summer break has agreed the Revenue Commissioners will collect the new property tax which is to be introduced next year.

“It was deemed to be the most efficient way to collect the property tax,” the Government spokesman said.

A detailed memo outlining how much the tax will be and how it is to be calculated will be brought to Government “very early in the new session”. The next Cabinet meeting is scheduled for September 4th.

Following a review of Ministerial transport, Cabinet has agreed Ministers will take a 10 per cent reduction in mileage from September 1st to take account of any “personal travel” incurred.

Cabinet also agreed to increase subvention to CIE by €36 million in order to protect public transport services. Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar said CIE’s financial position was “difficult”.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore brought a joint memo to Cabinet to maximise economic engagement with China. A number of Ministerial trade visits to the country will follow.

Cabinet approved the constituency boundary changes and reduction in number of TDs contained in the recently-published Constituency Commission report and Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan got approval to draft legislation to put it into effect.

New Freedom of Information legislation can be drafted following Government approval. It will exclude commercial State bodies.

Reform of public service allowances was discussed in general terms but no decision was taken. The issue of the reform of local government was not discussed and put back for further discussion.

Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan received the approval of the Government to the drafting of a Bill to implement the recommendations of the Constituency Commission Report 2012 which was presented to the Ceann Comhairle last month.

The report recommended that the number of TDs be reduced to 158 from 166. The number of constituencies will be 40 of which 11 will be 5-seat, 16 will be 4-seat and 13 will be 3-seat.