Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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This provision would be rarely used. Something similar was included in the 2000 Act and I do not believe it was ever used. It would most definitely come down to the judgment of the local authority members because in essence it would mean increasing the amount, which would probably be done very selectively.

This section will be quite difficult anyway as it tries to align different rates where there is a former town council or where a county and city council are amalgamated. It provides for ten years to do that. There will be difficulties anyway. The Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland, AMAI, asked us to seek this change to allow for such flexibility.

On the section overall, is it intended to send out two or more separate rates bills? How will that work in practice? I would expect considerable resentment if a larger amount is to be paid with a reduced service provided.