Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

My experience is that it is not easy to run a small business in Ireland. People are struggling to pay rates. I do not know how the levels of rates payable here compare with those in other European countries, but I get the impression that we are being hit harder than the average small business elsewhere in Europe. Perhaps I am wrong, but that is my feeling. Let me give an example. In Inchicore and the streets around Croke Park we had restaurants and wine bars. One sees shops in these areas being closed all the time and it is very hard to stay in business and to attract shop owners into them. One of the reasons for this is that it is difficult for those in business to pay the rates charged. Is there a concept in the Valuation Office that in certain areas there is a need for leniency to allow existing business to survive and attract further businesses?