Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)

It is an opportune time to have this debate about businesses and the ways we can explore to assist them. There is no doubt that businesses have been put to the pin of their collar in the current economic climate. Businesses alone have carried the entire rates bill to run local services over the past number of years and there is no doubt that a fairer and more sustainable system of supporting local authorities and services is required. For this reason I welcome the fact the Minister, Deputy Hogan, and the Government is looking to broaden the base to support those services.

Reform, in conjunction with new efficiencies in the delivery of local services, will assist local authorities in meeting their obligations, and the sooner this happens, the better. I welcome the fact the new proposed legislation will streamline the valuation system and introduce new models of assessment that will be considered on a pilot basis, such as the self-assessment model. The revaluation programme to update commercial valuations will bring about a more equitable system of rate paying, and it will also facilitate a close and consistent relationship between the rental values of property and rates liability. I urge the Minister to consider a graduated system of rates to assist small and medium businesses, particularly those on the high streets which are really struggling. Some breaks should be offered to them in preference to large multinational companies.

I listened closely to the Fianna Fáil contributors and I remind the House that the last time a Valuation Act was introduced was in 2001. That was done by my former colleague, the former Minister, Mr. Martin Cullen. At the time he said the Bill was designed to improve, streamline and modernise the operation of the valuation system, and he indicated the country would be revalued over five years, with subsequent revaluations at regular intervals thereafter. In 2011 only three local authorities have been revalued, including South Dublin County Council, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and Fingal County Council. The process has commenced in a couple of other authorities.

It is a bit rich for Fianna Fáil Members to come to the House seeking wholesale reformation of the valuation system when the party was in Government for the past 15 years.

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