Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

I wish to make three suggestions to the Minister and I ask him to support Fine Gael on these three matters. Does he support the establishment of a business and employment section in each local authority to bring together all the agencies that are involved in enterprise, some of which reside in various Departments and more of which operate through local authorities? However, no co-ordination takes place between them. Does the Minister agree it is now essential to bring together all those groups to make a concerted effort at local level to enhance the prospects of employment?

Second, will the Minister ask local authorities and the managers he meets on a regular basis to freeze commercial rates for the next five years? The easiest option available to such managers is to increase commercial rates to balance the books and councillors sometimes fall into that trap. Third, there is an issue regarding five years being the termination date for planning applications for major works. It is essential to extend this limit to seven years to reduce costs to applicants and to remove the existing backlog in An Bord Pleanála.

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