Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree with Deputy Casey.

I have seen changes because of the various cuts. People cannot afford to pay these amounts. We are dealing with people's money and livelihoods. This is not our money. The number of cuts across the country has been unreal.

There seems to be an unfair system. Everything has to be audited and regulated and payments need to be made, but we are in a crisis. When an audit determines that so many mortgages or business loans have to be paid, there must be leniency. We are not a bank. If we ever take that attitude, we are finished. When auditing is done and attempts are made to try to bring in arrears, there must be leniency. Through its audit, its CEO, who is responsible, and itself, a council must ensure leniency. Sometimes, people forget that this is not our money.

I was taken aback by something that I read to the effect that if an authority decides to increase the LPT rate above the basic rate, it receives the full amount of the increased yield collected. We cannot just go to a local authority meeting and say that we will increase the LPT, rates or whatever. The more money we try to take in, the more people are told that they will get an incentive for it, but they just do not have it. This matter needs to be considered in audits. When I asked local authorities for leniency in respect of a number of people, they replied that they were being told to do this by the Department, that there must be an audit or that it could not be done. That is unfair. Will the witnesses consider this matter, given that we are dealing with people's money, and give everyone a fair chance?