Revenue Commissioners to collect property tax

The Cabinet has decided to give collection of the property tax next year to the Revenue Commissioners.

Ministers also today decided to cut their travel claims, to take account of personal use, but reform of local Government and abolishing town councils never even made it onto the agenda.

Members of the Cabinet and junior ministers - with the exception of the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Justice ministers - are to cut their mileage claims by 10%.

They make their claims for using their own cars, but the cut is to reflect 'personal use' .

Ministers today decided to give collection of the property tax next year to the Revenue Commissioners, who they say is the most efficient body.

But they have yet to make any decisions on the nature of the tax, though they did say it will be implemented in 2013.

The report on the 800 allowances to public servants was discussed, but no decisions were made.

Cabinet did approve the boundary commission and to draft legislation to give effect to it - which will cut the number of TDs to 158 - but the plans to reform local government and scrap town councils was put off until the autumn.

Ministers will meet again on September 4.