Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Does the Minister of State agree with me that the problems of the shops in the town centres is more directly linked to the reduction in people's disposable income than to parking problems? Retail Excellence Ireland published a report stating that the introduction of the property tax has negatively impacted on retail sales during the first part of the year and in its quarterly barometer the retail lobby group said that overall sales across the sector continued to disappoint during the first quarter. Given that the property tax is not based on ability to pay does it not worry the Government that it is further reducing disposable income which is impacting directly on jobs in these town centres and shop units?

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