Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Barry Cowen referred to the pressures on rates for commercial activities in cities and towns. Certainly, when I was involved in Dublin City Council, we were able to reduce the rates bill year on year, but it was only a tokenistic reduction because we did not have a sufficient income base to do more. A councillor cannot really ask for commercial rates to be reduced without showing an alternative income stream. That is where the property tax comes in. There will be some sharing of the burden across society and it can be used as a mechanism to stimulate employment and the upgrading of town centres etc., which is vital.

The idea of town teams is excellent. Retail Ireland has already brought forward the notion of town teams, as explained by Deputy Barry Cowen. I am unsure whether the original idea for Retail Ireland came from it or the Deputy. There is an active and working town team in the Minister of State's area in Limerick which is already starting to gain momentum in revitalising Limerick in co-operation with all of the groups the Minister of State outlined. Another town team is beginning to get up-and-running in Carlow and I hope it will have the same effect. These two important pilot schemes being run by Retail Ireland should be closely watched to determine whether the idea can be built on and improved.

Towns and villages, whether in rural or urban Ireland, are the very fabric of Irish society. In past decades we have failed these towns and villages. They will have to change as the pressures and way people purchase goods change. When I was a younger man, I travelled a good deal in Ireland. Kinsale was an active commercial town at the time. I have seen the twon reinvent itself for several years. We should consider how we can reinvent other towns and villages. We cannot stop progress, the Internet or change how consumers buy goods. However, we can consider different elements of change. Ranelagh in my constituency is a good example. It is reinventing itself and the increased footfall is manifest in local shops and restaurants.

Consequently, it will be necessary to consider new ways to address this. I acknowledge it will be necessary to consider the rate burden on these small shops and businesses but it also will be necessary to work with the commercial sector and small businesses to reinvent the towns and villages that have been at the heart of Irish society for many decades.

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