Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Could the Minister clarify where are we in respect of the rates revaluation country wide? I know it is ongoing but how far advanced is it? Perhaps the Minister could indicate if he is prepared to look at the possibility of overhauling the entire process relating to rates calculation and the system that is in place? We believe the system is outdated and that it should be more attuned to turnover associated with business and with a subdivision of business types in order to meet the demands people are facing in the context of the economy. There is an over-reliance on local authorities to accept those values without taking into account the changed atmosphere and different challenges. Ultimately, there is no correlation between rates, business types and services and the ability of entities to survive or thrive.