John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I want to move on to the subsequent occupier clause and question the officials from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. When applying the "rate in the pound", as it was known by the councillors, or the county manager in bringing forward his or her rate every year, there is unevenness across the country.

Some counties have increased it continually over those years, while others, for competitive purposes, did not increase it or kept the level lower than what might even be the national norm. Therefore, there is a very uneven playing field which might create competitive tension between, for example, my neighbouring county of Waterford and Kilkenny, or Carlow in the other direction.

How does Ms McLaughlin plan to even out that field after the valuation is done? How will she go about reducing the rate in the pound that was applied over the years to give a reasonable, even rate across the country? That is where part of the problem lies.

My second point is that while one has the local government valuation authority discussing this, one should also have the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation discussing it. After one squeezes the situation in business and reduces one's costs, the only cost one cannot adjust is that of rates. That cost is closing businesses down whether they are on an industrial estate or on the high street. Rates constitute the biggest challenge that businesses face in keeping their doors open. We are not taking rates seriously enough and are not reacting quickly enough to give businesses that lifeline to stay in business.

Ms McLaughlin heard from Deputy O'Donnell about Limerick and from Deputy Deasy about Waterford. I presume that because of the abolition of the borough of Kilkenny we will be faced with the same problem concerning the rateable valuation in what is now a new city and county structure. I would like Ms McLaughlin to answer those questions please.