Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent) | Oireachtas source

One of the most contentious issues is that people in areas like Dublin and Wicklow will pay several times more than people in the Minister's own constituency. In his answer to questions on that issue, on which I have tabled amendments, the Minister said the reason those people pay more is because the higher value of the house is a function of higher local services. The Minister and I both know that not only is that not the case, the opposite is the case. The councils do not pay more money to provide better services in areas where the house prices are higher. The spend per person for Dublin City Council is less than anywhere else. Were we to follow the Minister's logic, I would agree that the money should be used to pay for local services but that is not what will happen. I appeal to the Minister to apply his own logic to this and if he is going to charge people, to charge them for the services provided and do not charge people in Dublin, Wicklow and other urban areas several times more for services that not only do not cost several times more, but cost less because of economies of scale.

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