Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

We often think about established areas when it comes to vacancy but it is also very much an issue in newer developments and communities. I walked around Clongriffin in my constituency recently. The town centre there was built ten or 15 years ago and more than 50% of the retail units on the ground floor are still vacant. Has any examination been done at a national level as to whether rates are being applied to ground floor retail units in these areas? Dublin City Council has always applied certain rates on vacant units as a disincentive and other local authorities can do that as well. Is there an issue with newer units, albeit ones that are ten or 15 years old, not being rated at all? They may be escaping those vacant premises rates on the basis that they have not been fully completed or finished out. Is that how they escape the rates? Has that been looked at or examined at all?