Valuation (Amendment) Act 2015
Acts of the Oireachtas
Source: Acts of the Oireachtas

num: 1
paragraphs: In this Act “Principal Act” means the Valuation Act 2001 .
num: 2
paragraphs: Section 3 of the Principal Act is amended—
(a) by substituting for the definition of “charitable organisation” the following:
“‘charitable organisation’ means a charitable organisation within the meaning of section 2 of the Charities Act 2009 that is entered in the register of charitable organisations pursuant to Part 3 of that Act;”,
(b) by inserting, after the definition of “domestic premises” the following:
“‘effective date’ has the meaning assigned to it by section 21;”,
(c) by inserting, after the definition of “global valuation certificate”, the following:
“‘initial valuation’ means the valuation submitted by the occupier in relation to a property pursuant to regulations made under section 26B;”,
(d) by substituting for the definition of “material change of circumstances” the following:
“‘material change of circumstances’ means a change of circumstances that consists of—
(a) the coming into being of a newly erected or newly constructed relevant property or of a relevant property, or
(b) a change in the value of a relevant property caused by—
(i) the making of structural alterations to that relevant property, or
(ii) the total or partial destruction of any building or other erection which forms part of that relevant property, by fire or any other physical cause,
or
(c) the happening of any event whereby any property or part of any property begins, or ceases, to be treated as a relevant property, or
num: 3
paragraphs: Section 4 of the Principal Act is amended by substituting for subsection (1)(b) the following:
“(b) an appeal made to the Tribunal under section 34, or”.
num: 4
paragraphs: Section 9(11) of the Principal Act is amended by substituting for “under this Act” the following:
“under this Act, including the entering into arrangements with persons (other than officers of the Commissioner) to perform such functions or portions of such functions, including with respect to different classes of relevant properties or different geographical areas within rating authority areas”.
num: 5
paragraphs: Section 13 of the Principal Act is amended—
(a) by inserting “(1) ” before “The Commissioner”, and
(b) by inserting after subsection (1) the following:
“(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) or section 19(5), where the Commissioner is satisfied that it is appropriate to do so, the net annual value of particular properties or classes of properties may be determined using general market data, or aggregated data (including data derived from statistical and computer-aided techniques), that are likely to be representative of a particular class of properties.”.
num: 6
paragraphs: Section 17 of the Principal Act is amended by substituting for subsections (2) and (3) the following:
“(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), for the purposes of any valuation falling to be made under this Act, an officer may, if he or she thinks it proper to do so having regard to the circumstances of the matter—
(a) value or cause to be valued contiguous relevant properties that are occupied by one person as a single relevant property even though those properties are held under different titles, and
(b) if a relevant property comprises 2 or more parts capable of being occupied separately, value or cause to be valued the several parts as separate relevant properties even though those parts are occupied by the one person.
(3) Notwithstanding subsection (1), for the purposes of any valuation falling to be made under this Act, in the case of non-contiguous relevant properties that are occupied by the one person an officer may value or cause to be valued those properties as a single relevant property if, in the opinion of the officer, a valuation that reflects those properties’ true economic nature cannot be arrived at (because of the particular character of those properties) without treating them in that manner.
(4) Where the officer values or causes to be valued relevant properties or, as the case may be, parts of a relevant property in the manner referred to in subsection (2) or (3), the relevant properties or parts shall be treated as a single relevant property or, as the case may be, separate relevant properties for all the other purposes of this Act.
(5) In subsections (2) to (4) ‘officer’ means a valuation manager or a revision manager.”.
num: 7
paragraphs: Section 19 of the Principal Act is amended—
(a) by substituting for subsections (1) and (2) the following:
“(1) The Commissioner, after consultation with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and the rating authority concerned, may make an order (in this Act referred to as a ‘valuation order’) specifying a rating authority area as being an area in relation to which the Commissioner proposes to appoint a person under subsection (2) to organise and secure the carrying out of a valuation of relevant property situate in that area (other than any property specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of that subsection).
(1A) A valuation order may specify that the valuation of a rating authority area, or a portion thereof, shall be carried out in accordance with regulations made under section 26B.
(2) As soon as may be after the making of a valuation order, the Commissioner shall appoint a person to organise and secure the carrying out of a valuation of every relevant property on the valuation list or existing valuation list situate in the rating authority area specified in the order and any relevant property entered on that list between the making of the valuation order and the publication of the list, other than—
(a) any relevant property the subject of an order under section 53, or
num: 8
paragraphs: Section 21 of the Principal Act is amended—
(a) by substituting for subsection (1) the following:
“(1) A valuation order shall specify—
(a) a date (in this Act referred to as the ‘publication date’) on which the Commissioner proposes to cause to be published under section 23 a list comprising every relevant property that has been the subject of the valuation mentioned in the order, and the value of that property as determined by that valuation, and
(b) a date (in this Act referred to as the ‘effective date’) on which that list becomes effective for rates purposes.”,
(b) in subsection (3), by substituting “The publication date” for “The date”, and
(c) in subsection (4), by inserting “or a different effective date for the effective date specified therein” after “the publication date specified therein”.
num: 9
paragraphs: Section 23 of the Principal Act is amended in subsection (3) by substituting “On the effective date” for “On being so published”.
num: 10
paragraphs: Section 24 of the Principal Act is amended by inserting after subsection (2) the following:
“(3) Without prejudice to subsection (1), the valuation manager may, at any time prior to the publication date, amend a valuation certificate so as to correct any error (including any electronic error) therein.”.
num: 11
paragraphs: Section 26 of the Principal Act is amended—
(a) in subsection (1), by deleting “not less than 3 months”,
(b) in subsection (2), by substituting “within 40 days from the date of the issue of the notice to him or her, if he or she is dissatisfied with the value proposed to be stated, or any other material particular stated,” for “within 28 days from the date of the issue of the notice to him or her, if he or she is dissatisfied with any material particular stated”, and
(c) by substituting for subsection (3) the following:
“(3) Without prejudice to subsections (4) to (6), the valuation manager referred to in subsection (1) may—
(a) having considered or caused to be considered any representations made to him or her by an occupier under and in accordance with subsection (2), or
(b) in the absence of any such representations, of his or her own volition,
if he or she thinks it appropriate to do so, cause the terms of the valuation certificate referred to in subsection (1) to be amended.
(4) Notwithstanding anything in the preceding subsections and, in particular the fact (if such be the case) that the powers under subsection (3) have been exercised in relation to the certificate referred to in subsection (1), the valuation manager referred to in subsection (1) may where, in his or her opinion, it is necessary or expedient to do so, cause that certificate to be replaced with a new proposed certificate.
(5) Without prejudice to subsection (4), in the case of—
(a) a single property, the subject of a certificate referred to in subsection (1), that is subsequently subdivided into 2 or more properties, or
(b) 2 or more properties, each of which is the subject of such a certificate, that are subsequently amalgamated,
the valuation manager referred to in subsection (1) may cause the foregoing certificate or, as the case may be, each foregoing certificate to be replaced with, as the case may be—
(i) 2, or more than 2, proposed new certificates, or
(ii) a single new proposed certificate.
(6) Where the power under subsection (4) or (5) is exercised, then the valuation manager shall permit the occupier of the property concerned (or, in the case of a subdivision, the occupier of each property concerned) to make, to the same extent as is mentioned in subsection (2), representations to the valuation manager in relation to the terms of the proposed new certificate or certificates; where such representations are made a like power to that under subsection (3) is available to the valuation manager, having considered or caused to be considered those representations, to cause the terms of the certificate (or, as the case may be, of any of the certificates) to be amended.
(7) For the avoidance of doubt, any power conferred by this section to cause the terms of one or more certificates to be amended, or one or more certificates to be replaced, extends to providing for, as appropriate—
(a) an increase in the value of the relevant property stated in the certificate concerned, or
(b) the specification in the replacement certificate of a higher value in respect of the relevant property than that was specified in respect of it in the previous certificate,
in addition to such power extending to providing for a decrease in such value or the specification in the replacement certificate of a lower value.
(8) Following the valuation manager’s exercise or, as the case may be, final exercise of the powers under this section in relation to the relevant property concerned, he or she shall cause the appropriate valuation certificate under section 24 to be issued to the occupier concerned.”.
num: 12
paragraphs: The Principal Act is amended by inserting after Part 5 the following:
“PART 5A
Occupier Assisted Valuation
Definition (Part 5A)
26A. In this Part ‘accurate’, in relation to a valuation, means a valuation that correctly estimates the net annual value of the property concerned.
Regulations may provide for occupier assisted valuation
26B. (1) The Minister may make regulations providing for the carrying out of the valuation, or the taking of one or more of the steps that comprise such valuation, of relevant properties under this Act within one or more rating authority areas by the occupier of each property concerned and the procedure to be followed for those purposes.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), regulations under this section may provide for any or all of the following:
(a) the issuing of guidelines by the Commissioner to the occupier regarding submission of valuations (including submission by electronic means) and other matters under this Part ;
(b) the notice to be sent to the occupier regarding the requirements under such regulations;
(c) the submission by the occupier to the Commissioner of such particulars of the relevant property as the Commissioner considers appropriate;
(d) the submission by the occupier to the Commissioner of his or her valuation in respect of his or her property;
(e) the deadline by which the valuation shall be submitted by the occupier, or by his or her agent, to the Commissioner, including provision for extensions to the deadline in cases in which such submission is made by electronic means;
(f) the records that the occupier shall be required to keep of the basis upon which the valuation was submitted;
(g) the length of time the occupier shall be required to keep records of the basis upon which the valuation was submitted;
(h) the forms to be used by the occupier for the submission of his or her valuation;
(i) the specification of classes of properties that shall be, or shall not be, the subject of valuation under the regulations;
(j) the specification of geographical areas within the rating authority area that shall be, or shall not be, the subject of valuation under the regulations.
(3) Regulations made under this section may be—
(a) general in nature and apply to all valuation orders where section 19(1A) applies,
(b) specific to a particular valuation order, or
(c) specific to certain components of a particular valuation or to certain of the steps that comprise a particular valuation.
Act to apply
26C. Where section 19(1A) applies and regulations have been made under section 26B—
(a) this Part shall apply, and
(b) the other Parts of this Act shall apply with any necessary modifications,
and, accordingly, a valuation list published under section 23 may include property to which this Part applies.
Functions of officer of Commissioner under occupier assisted valuation
26D. (1) Where an occupier has submitted an initial valuation, an officer of the Commissioner may, at any time prior to the publication date —
(a) without prejudice to any other powers (including the powers under Part 10) so enabling the officer in that regard, make such enquiries or require the production of such information or records as he or she may require to satisfy himself or herself that the initial valuation submitted was accurate, and
(b) substitute his or her own valuation, issue a valuation certificate to that effect and enter that valuation on the valuation list, if he or she forms the view that the initial valuation has not been made in accordance with this Act and regulations made under it.
(2) Where the occupier of a property—
(a) submits a valuation that, in the opinion of the officer, is not accurate, or
(b) fails to duly submit a valuation by the deadline provided,
the officer of the Commissioner shall, on or before the publication date and, in accordance with the matters set out in section 19(5), determine the appropriate valuation in respect of the property concerned, issue a valuation certificate to that effect and enter that valuation on the valuation list.
Right of occupier to make representations under occupier assisted valuation
26E. Without prejudice to the generality of section 26C, where section 19(1A) applies and regulations have been made under section 26B, the provisions of section 26 enabling the occupier of relevant property to make representations and enabling the amendment of a valuation certificate shall apply with any necessary modifications.
Offence where occupier fails to submit valuation
26F. An occupier of relevant property to whom this Part applies who fails to submit a valuation by the deadline provided by, or pursuant to, regulations under section 26B(2) shall be guilty of an offence.
Where person submits false valuation
26G. A person who submits a valuation under this Part that is false knowing it to be false or being reckless as to whether it is false shall be guilty of an offence.”.
num: 13
paragraphs: The Principal Act is amended by substituting for section 28 the following:
“28. (1) In this section ‘property concerned’ means a property in relation to which a person, by virtue of his or her appointment under this section, is entitled to exercise the powers conferred by this section.
(2) (a) The Commissioner may of his or her own volition appoint an officer of the Commissioner to exercise, in relation to such one or more properties as the Commissioner considers appropriate, the powers expressed by this section to be exercisable by a revision manager, and such an officer who is so appointed is referred to in this Act as a ‘revision manager’.
(b) A revision manager appointed under paragraph (a) or subsection (3) may assign to another officer of the Commissioner any of his or her functions under this section.
(3) If an application under section 27 is made to the Commissioner, the Commissioner shall appoint an officer of the Commissioner to exercise, in relation to the property or properties to which the application relates, the powers expressed by this section to be exercisable by a revision manager, and such manager who is so appointed is also referred to in this Act as a ‘revision manager’.
(4) A revision manager, if he or she considers that a material change of circumstances which has occurred since a valuation under section 19 was last carried out in relation to the rating authority area in which the property concerned is situate or, as the case may be, since the last previous exercise (if any) of the powers under this subsection, or of comparable powers under the repealed enactments, in relation to the property warrants the doing of such, may, in respect of that property—
(a) if that property appears on the valuation list relating to that area, do whichever of the following is or are appropriate—
(i) amend the valuation of that property as it appears on the list,
num: 14
paragraphs: On and from such day as the Minister appoints by order under this section, the following amendment shall have effect in relation to the section inserted in the Principal Act by section 13 , namely, the following subsection shall be substituted for subsection (5) of section 28 inserted in the Principal Act by that section:
“(5) (a) A revision manager shall, if the property concerned is property that has been the subject of an application under section 27, before the expiry of the relevant period—
(i) make a decision as to whether the circumstances referred to in subsection (4) exist for the exercise by him or her of the powers under that subsection in relation to that property,
(ii) if he or she decides that those circumstances do exist, exercise those powers in relation to that property accordingly.
(b) In this subsection ‘relevant period’ means the period of 6 months from the date the Commissioner determined that the relevant application made to the Commissioner under section 27 (that is to say, the application, under that section, on foot of which the appointment of the revision manager referred to in paragraph (a) was made) was valid and that the fee prescribed in respect of that application has been paid.”.
num: 15
paragraphs: Section 29 of the Principal Act is amended—
(a) in subsections (1) and (3), by substituting “revision manager” for “revision officer” in each place where it occurs, and
(b) in subsection (2) —
(i) by substituting “40 days” for “28 days”, and
(ii) by substituting “revision manager” for “officer” in each place where it occurs.
num: 16
paragraphs: Part 6 of the Principal Act is amended by inserting after section 29 the following:
“29A. (1) Where a revision manager decides not to—
(a) amend the valuation of a relevant property under section 28, or
(b) amend any other material particular in relation to that property as it appears on a valuation list,
the Commissioner may, exceptionally and provided he or she is of opinion that it is necessary to do so in the interests of equity and uniformity of value or, in a case falling under paragraph (b), in the interests of maintaining the valuation list in as accurate a state as practicable, direct the revision manager, as appropriate, to amend—
(i) the valuation of that relevant property, or
(ii) the material particular that, in the opinion of the Commissioner, is inaccurate, and to issue or cause to be issued a new valuation certificate in relation to the property concerned.
(2) For the purpose of complying with a direction under subsection (1)(i), the revision manager shall determine the valuation in accordance with section 49 as if the valuation were being determined for the purpose of section 28(4). Following that determination, the revision manager shall issue or cause to be issued in relation to the property concerned—
(a) in accordance with section 29, a copy of the new valuation certificate proposed to be issued under subsection (6) of section 28, and
(b) in accordance with that subsection (6), the new valuation certificate (in the terms as originally proposed under section 29 or, as the case may be, as amended under subsection (3) of that section).”.
num: 17
paragraphs: Sections 30 to 33 of the Principal Act are repealed.
num: 18
paragraphs: The Principal Act is amended by substituting for section 34 the following:
“34. (1) In relation to a property, a specified person may appeal in writing to the Tribunal against—
(a) a determination under section 19 or 28 of the value,
(b) any other detail stated in the relevant valuation list,
(c) any decision under this Act to include or not to include the property in the relevant valuation list or to exclude the property from that list,
(d) any decision by the revision manager under section 28(4)(a) or (b),
(e) in the case of a decision by the revision manager concerned to so exclude the property, any detail stated in the notice concerned issued under section 28(7), or
(f) any decision of the revision manager concerned that the circumstances referred to in section 28(4) do not exist for the exercise of the powers under that section in relation to the property.
(2) An appeal under subsection (1) shall be made within 28 days from the relevant date.
(3) A person who fails to supply information specified in a notice served under section 45(1) prior to the issue of—
(a) the valuation certificate pursuant to section 24 or 28,
(b) a global valuation certificate, or
(c) a notice under section 28,
shall not be permitted to ground or support an appeal to the Tribunal by reference to information that the person has so failed to supply.
(4) In this section—
‘relevant date’ means, as appropriate—
(a) the date of the relevant valuation list being caused to be published under section 23,
(b) the date of issue under section 28(6) of a valuation certificate in relation to the property, or
(c) the date of issue under section 28(7) or (9) of a notice in relation to the property;
‘specified person’ means—
(a) an occupier of property, in respect of that property,
(b) an occupier of relevant property, in respect of any other property, situate in the same rating authority area as that relevant property is situate,
(c) a rating authority, in respect of any property situate in its area, and
(d) a person, in respect of any property in relation to which he or she is an interest holder.”.
num: 19
paragraphs: Section 35 of the Principal Act is amended—
(a) in paragraph (a), by substituting for subparagraphs (i) and (ii) the following:
“(i) the grounds on which the appellant considers that the value of the property, the subject matter of the appeal (in this section referred to as ‘the property concerned’), being the value as determined by the valuation manager or revision manager, is not a determination of its value that accords with that required to be achieved by section 19(5) or, in the case of an appeal from a valuation made under section 28, with that required to be achieved by section 49, and
(ii) in accordance with the matters set out in section 19(5) or 49, as appropriate, what the appellant considers ought to have been determined as the property’s value,”,
(b) in paragraph (b), by deleting “issued under section 33(2) or in the notification concerned made under that section”, and
(c) in paragraph (c), by deleting “by the Commissioner under section 33(2)”.
num: 20
paragraphs: The Principal Act is amended by substituting for section 37 the following:
“37. (1) The Tribunal shall consider an appeal made to it under section 34; in considering the appeal, unless the issues in the appeal do not relate to the value of property, the Tribunal shall achieve a determination of the value of the property concerned that accords—
(a) with that required to be achieved by section 19(5), or
(b) in the case of an appeal from a valuation made under section 28, with that required to be achieved by section 49.
(2) Having considered the appeal, the Tribunal may, as it thinks appropriate—
(a) disallow the appeal and, accordingly, confirm the decision of the Commissioner, valuation manager or revision manager, as appropriate, or
(b) allow the appeal and, accordingly, do whichever of the following is appropriate—
(i) decide that the circumstances referred to in section 28(4) existed for the exercise of the powers under that section,
(ii) in accordance with the matters set out in section 19(5) or 49, as appropriate, increase or decrease the valuation as stated in the valuation certificate,
(iii) decide that the property ought to be included in the relevant valuation list, and determine the valuation in accordance with the matters set out in section 49,
(iv) decide that the property, ought to be excluded from the relevant valuation list,
(v) decide to amalgamate relevant properties, the subject of 2 or more appeals, and determine the valuation of the amalgamated property, in accordance with the matters set out in section 49,
(vi) decide that the property ought to be subdivided into 2 or more relevant properties, and determine the valuation of each such subdivided property in accordance with the matters set out in section 49,
(vii) amend any detail, other than the valuation, as stated in the valuation certificate,
(viii) amend any detail stated in the notification made under section 28(7).
(3) The Tribunal shall endeavour to make a decision on an appeal made to it under section 34 within 6 months from the date of its having r eceived the appeal.
(4) For the avoidance of doubt, neither subsection (1)(a) or (2)(b)(ii) (so far as it relates to section 19(5)) nor section 19(5) shall require the Tribunal to achieve the determination of the value of a property concerned by reference to any particular method of valuation and the Tribunal may arrive at its determination by reference to whatever method of valuation or combination of methods of valuation as the Tribunal, in its discretion, may deem appropriate.”.
num: 21
paragraphs: Subparagraphs (i) and (ii) of section 38(b) of the Principal Act are amended in each of those subparagraphs by inserting, after “situated”, the following:
“and, where the appellant is not the occupier or the rating authority, that appellant”.
num: 22
paragraphs: Section 40 of the Principal Act is repealed.
num: 23
paragraphs: Section 43(4) of the Principal Act is amended by deleting “or section 15(3)”.
num: 24
paragraphs: Section 45 of the Principal Act is amended by substituting for subsection (1) the following:
“(1) An officer of the Commissioner, or a person acting on that person’s behalf, may serve a notice on—
(a) the occupier of any property (whether relevant property or not),
(b) an interest holder, or
(c) such other person who, in the opinion of that officer or person so acting as aforesaid, has information in relation to such property,
requiring him or her to supply, within a period specified in the notice (being a period of not less than 28 days beginning on the date of the service of the notice), and in a manner specified in the notice, to the person who served it such information as is specified in the notice, being information that is necessary, in the opinion of that person, for the purpose of the performance by the foregoing officer, or another officer, of the Commissioner of his or her functions under this Act.”.
num: 25
paragraphs: Section 46 of the Principal Act is amended by substituting for subsection (3) the following:
“(3) The occupier of—
(a) a relevant property which comes into existence after the date on which a valuation order is made in relation to the rating authority area in which the property is situated,
(b) a relevant property which was not relevant property on the date on which such an order is made in relation to the rating authority area in which the property is situated, or
(c) a relevant property, on the coming into occupation of that property for the first time or on the entering into a new tenancy agreement in respect of that property,
(not being property referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of section 19(2)) shall, within 28 days from the date on which the property has come into existence, become relevant property or come into occupation or a new tenancy agreement has been entered in respect of it, as the case may be, provide in writing to the Commissioner the specified particulars with respect to that property.”.
num: 26
paragraphs: Section 47 of the Principal Act is amended—
(a) in subsection (1), by substituting “a person” for “an officer of the Commissioner”,
(b) in subsection (2), by substituting “A person” for “An officer of the Commissioner”, and
(c) in subsection (3), by substituting “a person” for “an officer of the Commissioner”.
num: 27
paragraphs: Section 48(3) of the Principal Act is amended by deleting “and charges (if any) payable by or under any enactment”.
num: 28
paragraphs: Section 50 of the Principal Act is amended by inserting “(1) ” before “If”, by substituting in subsection (1) “shall, subject to subsection (2), be an amount” for “shall be an amount” and by inserting the following after subsection (1):
“(2) An adjustment shall be made so that the amount arrived at by such means to be the property’s net annual value is (insofar as is reasonably practicable and in accordance with section 19(5) or 49, as appropriate) determined by reference to the values of other properties comparable to that property as appearing on the valuation list.”.
num: 29
paragraphs: Section 53 of the Principal Act is amended—
(a) by inserting, after subsection (6), the following:
“(6A) Where a further global valuation in relation to a public utility undertaking is carried out in accordance with subsection (6), any value in relation to any property that comprised part of the previous global valuation of that public utility undertaking (being its value immediately before it was comprised in the global valuation) but does not comprise part of the further global valuation, shall be entered in a valuation list on the same date as the further global valuation is entered in the central valuation list under section 55.”,
(b) by inserting, after subsection (7), the following:
“(7A) After the carrying out of a global valuation in relation to a public utility undertaking and prior to the carrying out of a further global valuation in accordance with subsection (6), any property or properties comprised in that global valuation shall, except where provided for in subsection (7B), not be subject to a valuation under Part 5 or a revision under Part 6.
(7B) Notwithstanding subsection (7A), after the determination of a global valuation in relation to a public utility undertaking and prior to the carrying out of a further global valuation in accordance with subsection (6), any property comprised in that global valuation list that is disposed of or, in the opinion of the Commissioner, no longer occupied by that public utility undertaking for the purposes set out in subsection (5), may be subject to a valuation under Part 5 or a revision under Part 6, unless it is subsequently occupied by another public utility undertaking that has been the subject of a global valuation under this section and, in the opinion of the Commissioner, used for the purposes set out in subsection (5).
(7C) Where a public utility undertaking that has been the subject of a global valuation—
(a) acquires a relevant property after that global valuation has been carried out, and
(b) that relevant property is, in the opinion of the Commissioner, used for the purposes set out in subsection (5),
such relevant property shall not be subject to a valuation under Part 5 or a revision under Part 6 until it meets the criteria set out in subsection (7B).”,
and
(c) in subsection (9), by substituting “4 months” for “2 months”.
num: 30
paragraphs: Section 55(1) of the Principal Act is amended by substituting “at his or her office or otherwise” for “at his or her office”.
num: 31
paragraphs: Section 56 of the Principal Act is amended by substituting for subsection (1) the following:
“(1) In this section—
‘appropriate year’ means the financial year immediately following the effective date in relation to the valuation list that, for the time being, stands published in respect of the area of the rating authority concerned;
‘consumer price index number’ means the All Items Consumer Price Index Number compiled by the Central Statistics Office;
‘consumer price index number relevant to the appropriate year’ means the consumer price index number most recently published by the Central Statistics Office before the effective date mentioned in the definition of ‘appropriate year’ in this subsection;
‘consumer price index number relevant to the preceding year’ means the consumer price index number lastly published by the Central Statistics Office before the day that falls 12 months before the day on which the consumer price index number referred to in the preceding definition is published;
‘preceding year’ means the financial year that immediately precedes the financial year mentioned in the definition of ‘appropriate year’ in this subsection.”.
num: 32
paragraphs: The Principal Act is amended by inserting after Part 12 the following new Part:
“Part 12A
State Land
State land
56A. All State land vested in the Minister for Finance, by virtue of section 5 of the State Property Act 1954 or otherwise, immediately before the commencement of section 32 of the Valuation (Amendment) Act 2015, and all rights, powers and privileges relating to or connected with such State land shall, without any conveyance or assignment, stand vested in the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for all the estate or interest therein that, immediately before such commencement, vested in the Minister for Finance, but subject to all trusts and equities affecting any such State land continuing to subsist and being capable of being performed.
Legal proceedings
56B. Where any legal proceedings are pending to which the Minister for Finance is a party and the proceedings have reference to land transferred by section 56A, the name of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform shall, to the extent that they have such reference, be substituted for the Minister for Finance in those proceedings and the proceedings shall not abate by reason of such substitution.
Power of Minister
56C. Anything commenced but not completed before the commencement of section 32 of the Valuation (Amendment) Act 2015 by or under the authority of the Minister for Finance may in so far as it relates to land transferred by section 56A be carried on and completed by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
Instruments to have effect
56D. Every instrument (including any lease or licence) granted or made in relation to land transferred by section 56A shall, if and in so far as it was operative immediately before the commencement of section 32 of the Valuation (Amendment) Act 2015, continue to have effect as if it had been granted or made by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
Validity of transfer
56E. Nothing in this Part shall affect the validity of any transfer of State land or rights, powers and privileges relating or connected thereto effected by the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 2011 , the Finance (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011 ( S.I. No. 418 of 2011 ) or the Finance (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 2011 ( S.I. No. 480 of 2011 ).”.
num: 33
paragraphs: Section 60 of the Principal Act is amended—
(a) in subsection (1), by substituting “by a person” for “by an officer of the Commissioner,”, and
(b) by substituting for subsection (2) the following:
“(2) The production to the Tribunal or a court of a document purporting to be a copy of a valuation list or part of such a list and to be certified as such a copy by an officer of the Commissioner or other person duly authorised to do so, shall, without proof of the signature of that officer or other person that he or she was duly authorised by the Commissioner to so certify the document, be sufficient evidence, until the contrary is proved, of the matters stated in the document.”.
num: 34
paragraphs: Section 62 of the Principal Act is amended—
(a) in subsection (1) —
(i) by substituting “a person” for “an officer of the Commissioner”,
(ii) by substituting “revision managers” for “revision officers”, and
(iii) by substituting “another person” for “another officer of the Commissioner”,
(b) in subsection (2) —
(i) by substituting “A person” for “An officer of the Commissioner”, and
(ii) by substituting “another person” for “another such officer”,
and
(c) in subsection (3) —
(i) in paragraph (a) —
(I) by substituting “another person” for “another officer of the Commissioner”, and
(II) by substituting “person” for “officer of the Commissioner”,
and
(ii) in paragraph (b), by substituting “person” for “officer of the Commissioner”.
num: 35
paragraphs: Section 63 of the Principal Act is amended by inserting after subsection (3) the following:
“(4) Subsections (1) and (2) shall, with the necessary modifications, apply to an existing valuation list as they apply to a valuation list.”.
num: 36
paragraphs: The Principal Act is amended by substituting for section 65 the following:
num: 37
paragraphs: Part 13 of the Principal Act is amended by inserting after section 67 the following:
“Prohibition against unauthorised disclosure of confidential information
num: 68
paragraphs: (1) In this section ‘confidential information’ means information that is expressed by the Commissioner to be confidential either as regards particular information or as regards information of a particular class or description.
(2) Except in the circumstances set out in subsection (3), a person shall not disclose confidential information obtained while performing any function under this Act.
(3) A person does not contravene subsection (2) by disclosing confidential information if the disclosure—
(a) is authorised by the Commissioner,
(b) is made to the Commissioner or the Tribunal,
(c) is made to the Minister by or on behalf of the Commissioner or in compliance with this Act, or
(d) is otherwise permitted by law.
Commissioner may charge fees for copies of valuation lists, etc. supplied
num: 69
paragraphs: (1) The Commissioner may charge fees for copies and extracts of valuation lists, revisions and other documents (including maps and field books) in his or her custody or to which he or she has access.
(2) The Commissioner may, with the consent of the Minister, determine the fees to be charged for copies or extracts supplied.
(3) The Commissioner shall account for the fees collected in the annual report.
Occupier may appoint agent
num: 70
paragraphs: An occupier may appoint an agent for the purpose of the service of certificates, notices or other documents under section 66.
Data sharing
num: 71
paragraphs: (1) Notwithstanding any enactment or rule of law—
(a) a relevant person shall, upon a request from the Commissioner, provide the Commissioner with such information in the possession or control of the relevant person as the Commissioner may reasonably require for the purpose of enabling the Commissioner to perform his or her functions under this Act, and
(b) the Commissioner shall provide a rating authority with such information in the possession or control of the Commissioner, pursuant to this Act, as that rating authority may reasonably require for the purpose of enabling it to perform its functions by or under any enactment.
(2) In this section—
‘relevant person’ means any of the following:
(a) a rating authority;
(b) the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland;
(c) the Registrar of Companies;
(d) the Property Registration Authority;
(e) the Property Services Regulatory Authority;
(f) the Revenue Commissioners;
(g) any other person for the time being prescribed.”.
num: 38
paragraphs: Schedule 2 to the Principal Act is amended—
(a) by substituting for clauses (b) to (e) of paragraph 3(4) the following:
“(b) a division of the Tribunal shall consist, as the chairperson of the Tribunal determines, of one member or of 3 members, chosen, in either case, by him or her;
(c) where a division of the Tribunal consists of 3 members—
(i) at least one of those members shall be the chairperson or a deputy chairperson of the Tribunal,
(ii) the chairperson of such a division shall be the person who is the chairperson of the Tribunal or, if the chairperson of the Tribunal is not a member of the division, the member thereof who is a deputy chairperson of the Tribunal;
(d) the chairperson of the Tribunal shall assign to a division of the Tribunal the appeals to be determined by it;
(e) for the purposes of an appeal assigned to it, a division of the Tribunal shall have all the powers of the Tribunal and—
(i) where a division of the Tribunal consists of one member, that division shall have all powers of the chairperson, and
(ii) where a division of the Tribunal consists of 3 members, the chairperson of a division of the Tribunal shall have all the powers of the chairperson of the Tribunal,
and references in this Act to the Tribunal and the chairperson of the Tribunal shall be construed as references to a division and, where a division of a Tribunal consists of 3 members, the chairperson of a division, respectively.”,
(b) in paragraph 4—
(i) by substituting for subparagraph (2) the following:
num: 39
paragraphs: Schedule 4 to the Principal Act is amended—
(a) by inserting the following after paragraph 4:
“4A. (1) Any building or part of a building used exclusively for community sport, and otherwise than for profit and not being the premises of a club for the time being registered under the Registration of Clubs (Ireland) Act 1904 .
(2) In this paragraph ‘community sport’ means sport, the principal participants in which are—
(a) inhabitants of the locality in which the building concerned (or part of the building concerned) is situate,
(b) inhabitants of localities neighbouring the first-mentioned locality, or
(c) in the case of sporting activities involving teams and with the consent of those responsible in the first-mentioned locality for organising sporting activities in that locality, persons from any geographical area.
4B. (1) Any building or part of a building used exclusively for community sport and otherwise than for profit, and being the premises of a club for the time being registered under the Registration of Clubs (Ireland) Act 1904, but not including any building or part of a building—
(a) used on a regular or occasional basis for the sale or consumption of alcohol or in conjunction with the sale or consumption of alcohol, or
(b) used directly or indirectly in the generation of income, not being—
(i) club membership fees,
(ii) income received from community organisations for the use of the building or part for community purposes, or
(iii) income received from participants in community sport for the use of the building or part for the purposes of community sport.
num: 40
paragraphs: The Principal Act is amended by substituting for Schedule 5, to it, the following:
num: 41
paragraphs: (1) Sections 43 to 45 provide that, in respect of certain cases in which steps under the Principal Act have already been taken before the relevant date, the Principal Act shall have effect in its un-amended form, but this is subject to sections 43 (2) and 44 (1).
(2) Unless the contrary is provided by sections 43 to 45 the fact that a step under the Principal Act had already been taken before the relevant date shall not in itself prevent the Principal Act, as it stands amended by this Act, from having effect in relation to the case concerned.
(3) In particular, the Principal Act, as amended by this Act, shall, on and from the relevant date, have effect in relation to any case in which, before that date—
(a) a valuation order has been made, and
(b) no copy valuation certificates (relating to properties situated in the rating authority area specified in the valuation order) have been issued under section 26 of the Principal Act.
(4) In this section “relevant date” has the meaning assigned to it by section 42 (2)(d).
num: 42
paragraphs: (1) Where, in any provision of sections 43 to 45 , it is provided that the Principal Act shall have effect in its un-amended form, the provision shall be read as meaning that the Principal Act shall have effect as it had effect immediately before the relevant date (as defined in subsection (2) for the purposes of those sections).
(2) In sections 43 to 45 —
(a) a reference to a copy valuation certificate, under a particular section of the Principal Act, is a reference to a copy of a valuation certificate, provision for the issue of which is made by that section;
(b) a reference to a word or expression that is also used in the Principal Act shall be read in the manner in which it is to be read by virtue of the Principal Act;
(c) “application for revision” means an application for there to be exercised, in relation to a property, the powers conferred by section 28 of the Principal Act;
(d) “relevant date” means the date of commencement of the provision of this Act that amends the provisions of the Principal Act that are relevant to the steps taken in the cases mentioned in section 43 , 44 or 45 , as the case may be.
num: 43
paragraphs: (1) Where—
(a) a valuation order has been made before the relevant date, and
(b) one or more copy valuation certificates under section 26 of the Principal Act, relating to properties situated in the rating authority area specified in the valuation order, have been issued under that section before that date,
then, on and from the relevant date, the Principal Act shall, in its un-amended form, have effect in relation to—
(i) the copy valuation certificates, and
(ii) the eventual valuation certificates issued under section 24 and the valuation list, published on foot of that order,
but this is subject to subsection (2).
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to section 24 of the Principal Act which section, as amended by this Act, shall have effect in relation to the matters referred to in that subsection.
num: 44
paragraphs: (1) Where, before the relevant date—
(a) an application for revision has been made, and
(b) there has not been issued to the applicant a copy valuation certificate, or a notice, under section 29 of the Principal Act,
then, on and from the relevant date, the Principal Act, as amended by this Act, shall have effect in relation to that application (including all steps and stages consequent on that application).
(2) Where—
(a) before the relevant date—
(i) an application for revision has been made, and
(ii) there has been issued to the applicant a copy valuation certificate, or a notice, under section 29 of the Principal Act,
and
(b) there has not been issued, before the relevant date, a valuation certificate or notice under section 28 of the Principal Act to the applicant,
then, on and from the relevant date, the Principal Act shall, in its un-amended form, have effect in relation to that application (including all steps and stages consequent on that application).
num: 45
paragraphs: (1) Where, before the relevant date, there has been issued to a person a valuation certificate or a notice under section 28, 33 or 40 of the Principal Act or a valuation list has been published under section 23 of that Act (and the case does not fall within section 41 (3)), and—
(a) before that date there has not elapsed (in relation to the relevant person’s entitlement to appeal), as appropriate—
(i) the period of 40 days specified in section 30(1) of the Principal Act,
(ii) the period of 28 days specified in section 34(2) of that Act, or
(iii) the period of 28 days specified in section 40(5) of that Act,
or
(b) before that date—
(i) the relevant person has appealed against the matter concerned to the Commissioner under section 30 of the Principal Act but the Commissioner has not determined the appeal, or
(ii) the relevant person has appealed against the matter concerned to the Tribunal under section 34 or 40 of the Principal Act but the Tribunal has not determined the appeal,
then, on and from the relevant date, the Principal Act shall, in its un-amended form, have effect as respects—
(i) the relevant person’s entitlement to appeal (and the entitlements and obligations of any other person), and
(ii) all steps and stages consequent on any such entitlement being invoked,
in relation to that valuation list, valuation certificate or notice.
(2) In this section “relevant person” means the person to whom the valuation certificate or notice referred to in subsection (1) has been issued or, as the case may be, any other person referred to in section 30(1) of the Principal Act.
num: 46
paragraphs: (1) This Act may be cited as the Valuation (Amendment) Act 2015.
(2) The Valuation Acts 2001 to 2014, section 16 of the Health Service Executive (Financial Matters) Act 2014 , section 12 of the Water Services Act 2014 and this Act may be cited together as the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015.
(3) This Act shall come into operation on such day or days as the Minister may appoint by order or orders either generally or with reference to any particular purpose (including in respect of a particular valuation order or part thereof) or provision and different days may be so appointed for different purposes or different provisions.
(4) Subsection (3) is in addition to the provision made by section 14 with respect to the commencement of the amendment to which that section relates.