Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

I agree totally with the sentiments expressed by Deputy Niall Collins on the small business sector. Those in the sector are under pressure from a variety of areas and the cost base of surviving in business is a legitimate concern for them. However, given that 29% of local authority income is from the commercial rate base one can understand how important a source of income it is for local authorities as well. In the past two years there has been a reduction in commercial rates of 0.64% across the 88 local authorities. This may be a small reduction but in the context of the times we are in it was important that we did not increase them. That is always the easy options for local authority members. I am pleased that my initiative in this regard has worked well with the leaders of the groups.

I met the Commissioner of Valuation recently and we considered various ways in which we could improve the revaluation process and speed it up. It is totally unacceptable that it could take ten or more years to carry out a revaluation process. Revaluation has been carried out in several local authorities in the Dublin area with mixed success. Some people believe that a revaluation process will be a winner for them but that it not always the case. There are winners and losers in this process. Nevertheless, if a revaluation process is carried out and people believe there is a fair application given the times we are in, then they should be prepared to acknowledge that. I expect the Commissioner on Valuation will come back to Government, the Minister for Finance and myself with proposals in the coming weeks. There is a valuation Bill on the A list to go through the Houses of the Oireachtas this session and that will give us an opportunity to determine what we can do to help.

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