Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My last point relates to the Taoiseach's attention towards the north inner city, an area that has been left behind. One of the disappointing things is that this is as a result of a decade or so in which we were not capable of investing. There is a version of the north inner city in every county in the country at the moment. The local authorities now have a role in economic development, crossing over from the IDA. However, they have no additional specific funding to do something about that role. While some of them took the opportunity to raise the local property tax to the allowed limits, outside of that they have to increase rates, which, with business where it is at the moment, is certainly not an option. In terms of the economic development of the north inner city and other north inner cities, should there be a specific fund available to try to do something about those areas of deprivation that are now appearing in every county?