Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Town centres are facing a really difficult challenge. Many shops in towns are closed. The local government grants which used to fund local authorities have been reduced over the years and local authorities must generate funds from car parking fees. That pressure would not be there if the Government funded local authorities properly. Will the Minister of State consider the Sinn Féin proposal for a progressive commercial rate that takes into consideration the profitability of the business such that more profitable businesses pay higher commercial rates? In the North of Ireland we brought in a commercial rate which shifted the burden from small businesses to the larger out-of-town shops. There is no strategic plan for most town centres. Local authorities and the new local enterprise offices should be sitting down with the retailers in every town in the country and developing a strategic plan to see how they can grow in a healthy, sustainable and uniform manner.

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