Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

I have met the local authority managers and discussed this matter with them. I indicated that businesses are of the view that they must reduce their costs. As a former local authority member as well, I appreciate that financing local government is difficult but rates are a huge issue for businesses and their sustainability. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy John Gormley, indicated last year that there should be no increase in rates for businesses. Unfortunately, not every local authority abided by that.

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