Mr. Ciar?n Hayes:

NOAC is very conscious of this. It differs throughout the country. In areas where there is high demand, particularly in the major urban areas, it can be a disincentive, but in smaller rural towns and villages, for a local authority to insist on the payment of rates could be a further disincentive and could create additional dereliction. We have had closures of retail shops, pubs, post offices and so on in those areas. Where there are continued closures, if you are to insist on the payment of rates where there is no additional demand for the occupation and take-up of those commercial properties, it is a very fine balance. NOAC has to be cognisant of that.