James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to discuss houseboats and the significant increase in fees to berth around the Grand Canal Dock area. On the one hand, we are looking at an organisation that is running a deficit. On the other hand, we have residents involved and people who are passionate about what they do. Looking at what has been proposed, there has been an increase of €578 annually which increases the fee up to €4,000 for houseboat dwellers in the Grand Canal Dock area, and the fee will increase to €7,500 over six years. To me, that sounds very excessive. Do our witnesses appreciate how steep an increase that is for those affected?