The Environment Minister says he will publish the regulations for changing the property tax rates in the coming weeks.

Newly-elected councillors will have the power from next year to adjust the tax up or down by up to 15% in each of their areas from January 1st 2015.

Minister Phil Hogan says councillors will have to decide what services they want, and how such services can be paid for by the property tax.

Revenue's Annual Report for 2013 showed that over 94% of households complied with the tax last year - and 90% have paid this year's tax.

Since July 2013, €7.6 million has been collected in respect of 39,227 properties.

The deadline for paying this year's property tax was extended several times, due to the massive number of calls it received.