Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

Our party has called for a freeze of local authority charges. I noticed the Taoiseach commented on this issue recently as well. Has the Minister held consultations on this issue with local authorities and county and city managers? It is an enormous cost burden on small businesses but, having been a member of a local authority, I am aware that it can be a soft touch for local authorities at budget time. Has the Minister conveyed her views? Does she have concerns about this? Has she conveyed the views of small and medium enterprises?

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