AQO 539/22-27

Mr Pat Sheehan
Sinn Féin
West Belfast

Tabled Date: 23/05/2024
Answered On Date: 04/06/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Finance to provide an update on the Non-domestic Rating Measures consultation.

Answer:

Over 1,400 responses were received to the consultation on both domestic and non-domestic rating measures which ran from 7 November last year until 13 February. My officials have analysed the responses and provided me with an oral briefing with an overview of the findings.

A written report summarising those responses, and an advance copy of that report will be issued shortly to Ministerial colleagues and Finance Committee Members. Following that my officials will be providing a briefing to the Finance Committee on 12 June.

The non-domestic rating measures consultation looked at: Industrial Derating, Freight Transport Relief, Non-Domestic Vacant Rating empty property relief and Halls of Residence exemption for halls owned and managed by educational institutions.

A limitation of the NIO consultation was that it looked at the singular issue of revenue raising. As an Executive we need to look at a wider range of options than the binary decision to simply remove measures. Decisions will need to align with the strategic priorities of the Executive.

Since taking up post I have met with a range of business bodies and organisations. I intend to continue this engagement in the time ahead.