COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, February 09, 2009

QUESTION NO. 9

QUESTION: Councillor C. King

To ask the Manager to provide figures for the number of ratepayers who have not payed their rates for 2008 as a percentage of the overall number of rate payers in the County and can he/she make a statement on what impact if any these figures have on the Council's finances?

REPLY: 

The total number of  rates accounts in the Council's rate book in 2008 was 6702. Of these no payment was received in relation to 313 cases (4.7%), while part payment was received in respect of 526 (7.9%).

It should be noted however that the overall collection rate for 2008 was 92.37% which  compares  favorably with the 2007 average national collection rate of 92.4%. Account should also be taken of the revaluation process which affected the 2008 commercial rates in South Dublin. 

The Department of the Environment Heritage & Local Government has advised  the Council  that we should not incur a deficit in 2009. Any shortfall therefore, incurred by commercial rates during 2009 will  require efficiencies to be  generated and / or increased income earned in other areas