John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

Yes. It is significant that 34 local authorities held their rates at 2008 levels. This constitutes significant progress because, as the Deputy appreciates, the business sector is under extreme pressure and I am highly aware of that.

I have undertaken a number of measures and some of the Deputy's suggestions are constructive. I have asked local authorities to examine rigorously their costs to maximise efficiencies, which in turn will have a positive impact on business, and to focus on streamlining the ways they deal with business in areas such as planning and water. For example, Galway County Council has established a business support unit, which is exactly what the Deputy has suggested, and I have asked other local authorities to do likewise. I have asked them to lead on the soon to be completed reviews by county and city development boards on strategies to promote economic development in their own areas and to take steps to ensure that reductions in staffing levels do not focus on front line service. As for overall capital investment by local authorities, as I noted in my response to the previous question, this will exceed €6 billion this year.

I have also taken a number of specific actions to promote economic development. I have asked local authorities to do all they can to reduce development contributions or to defer the payments. My Department is facilitating discussions between certain local authorities in the greater Dublin area and An Bord Pleanála with a view to those authorities acting on an agency basis for the board in processing some of the board's caseload. The Deputy may recall we discussed this issue at committee level. I expect this arrangement will be in place shortly. As I stated in my initial response, the Tánaiste and I met the county and city managers to talk about reducing the cost to business. I have asked the county and city councils to streamline the manner in which they deal with businesses, including, as I stated, the support units. Finally, each county and city development board, led by local government, has now established an economic subgroup to promote economic and enterprise development. In many instances, this group also acts as a special taskforce to provide a co-ordinated response to business closures in their area.

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