Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to contribute to the Local Government (Town Centres) Bill. I commend and thank Deputy Barry Cowen for bringing the Bill before the House as it is part of the economic debate on town centres. It is also an attempt to arrive at new and radical ideas to kickstart the local economy that has taken a major hit in recent years, where small businesses have suffered and jobs have been lost. We urgently need to generate economic activity that will benefit our citizens, hence the reason the legislation and this debate are crucial.

We all know the problem and the issues but what people want is sensible well thought-out solutions. We have heard all the negative talk in the past couple of years. Town centres need these breaks. Governments, local authorities and politicians have a duty to set out ideas, to lead and lay the groundwork for generating our town centres. We also need an open and honest debate in the current economic climate. We have to be sensible where we spend our money. Common sense spending and planning are also the way forward, issues on which many of my colleagues have touched. I will develop this matter further in relation to the parking issue.

The issues that need to be dealt with in the current climate are parking charges at out-of-town shopping centres - it should be noted that parking charges raise €360 million per year; the reason town centres are dying on their feet and also opportunities for growth in town regeneration. I understand the Minister of State has recently backed the vacant site levy. Such issues must be examined in detail. Urban centres have been hard hit by out-of-town shopping centre magnates which has led to many town centres being on their knees. There is also the parking issue.

Town centres are not just about shopping. They have got to be about leisure centres as well as retail, side by side. That is the key to success. Town centres that need a break include Tuam, Westport, Killarney and in my own constituency of Dublin Bay North, places such as Howth. They need our support and sensible proposals to develop the economy. At the same time town centres have to be different. I emphasise they are not just about shopping, but developing the town centre in such a way that people will want to go there, where there is less hassle and there are options, such as a nice pub or restaurant and where people can do their shopping. People just do not want to go town centres for their main shopping. There is another agenda here and people have to wake up to that reality.

A number of my colleagues touched on the rates issue. However, I do not think the Minister of State and the Government really get the issue in respect of commercial rates. In the legislation Deputy Barry Cowen seeks to address the commercial rates issue, on which I strongly support him. Recently I spoke to a small businessman who has a restaurant-pub in County Clare, who happens to be a constituent of the Minister of State, who pays €37,000 in commercial rates. He employs in the region of 20 people in a pub-restaurant business. Before he gets out of bed he has to pay €37,000 before he starts to pay his staff. I am aware the Minister of State has said that she has asked local authorities to exercise restraint and, where possible, to reduce commercial rates. I also heard her mention that 87 of the 88 rating authorities are maintaining the same rate as in 2012. That is an issue we need to hammer home. Those authorities that are keeping the rate at the same level are still charging small businesses, which are trying to pay ten, 15 or 20 people, €37,000 per year. We need to watch that issue.

Another issue that is dealt with is the parking issue. One side of the debate that was ignored by many of my colleagues is the effect of parking on the local economy. For example, many people would not be aware, that the parking industry supports 1,500 jobs and contributes in excess of €100 million to the Exchequer. There are more than 350,000 car parking spaces in Irish cities, towns and town centres, including 269,000 off-street car parking spaces and a further 84,300 on-street spaces. It is estimated that local authorities around the country get €115 million in revenue from parking fees while private car park operators generate €80 million. That is a lot of money in the local economy and it is an issue we have not dealt with. Other beneficiaries include shopping centres which get €50 million, hotels and hospitals €25 million and transport hubs such as airports and railway stations €70 million. Therefore, the parking industry is a pretty large one. If that was a multinational industry providing 1,500 jobs we would all be jumping up and down and giving it tax breaks. The parking industry across Europe generates in the region of €30 billion from 47 million car parking spaces. I understand and support the concerns of businesses in town centres in respect of parking. However, when dealing with this issue we have to look at a well-regulated and managed parking regime as the way forward. I ask the Minister of State to consider these issues also as they are very important.

A truly national policy is important. Cities such as Galway, Cork, Limerick, Waterford and small towns should not be neglected. These town centres need to focus on making the city and town centres better places to visit. We need to bring people in for sensible and logical reasons. We must make town centres more attractive to consumers, tackle crime and improve safety and we need measures to improve business conditions for retailers on the ground.

In regard to the town teams issue, the Government should identify pilot towns and cities where new partnerships involving retailers, landlords, local authorities and representative groups can be formed to establish targets and achieve improvements in town centre locations. The business improvement industry is one we should strongly support.

The crime and safety issue is important. For example, in Dublin less than one in three people do not feel safe in the city centre at night time. That situation must be improved. What I am saying is that most of us on a Friday or Saturday night will go local and stay local and do not want the hassle of going into town. One third of the population of Dublin will not go into town on particular nights because they feel for their safety. That issue must be dealt with by providing a Garda presence and proper lighting systems in city centres and town centres. A proper plan must be put in place to deal with anti-social behaviour.

There is also the issue of litter and tidiness. In a recent poll, some 32% of people said the city was clean and tidy. Such a situation will not entice consumers to come to the city centre. I am aware Dublin City Council has made major improvements in recent years.

We need neat and tidy town and city centres but we also need to have a strong Garda presence. That is something at which we should look closely. More community policing is urgently needed.

I know there are major constitutional issues in regard to rents but this issue must be dealt with and other ways must be found to deal with it. I urge the Minister of State and the Government to look seriously at the proposals in Deputy Cowen's Bill. There are many good and sensible ideas in it which are an attempt to regenerate our town centres. That is the important part of the Bill and is why I urge Members to support it.

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