Caít Keane (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The property tax is giving more power locally. Deputy Catherine Murphy states it does not make a whit of a difference. The fact that there is more money coming in to local authorities from the households takes a little of a burden off the businesses. It also gives more discretion locally. It will provide an incentive to every local authority, particularly through the local enterprise offices, LEOs, and ensure they do not sit back and say that they will be all right on the night because the equalisation fund will sort them out. There is now an incentive for every local authority to get out there to do its damnedest to ensure that it looks for all the businesses that it can. It gives more autonomy in the raising of money, the spending of money and everything else. I could not leave on the record that it does not make a whit of difference. There will be more money anyway. That will make a big difference.