John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is probably the third time I have raised this issue with the Minister over the past year. Seanad amendment No. 14 deals with allowing the adjustment period to be extended beyond ten years and Seanad amendment No. 15 allows the rating authority to determine an increase in the annual rate of valuation. With regard to what we have spoken about over the past year, the Minister consistently gave assurances that he would try to bring the ARV to the lowest level in Waterford and Dungarvan was home to the lowest level. The Minister did as he said and I thank him for following through. I am not saying I did not believe the Minister but I kept a close eye on the issue for the past year. The Minister was consistent and in the case of the city, there has been a really excellent result when one considers that rate payers received a reduction of 20%, and in the county the reduction was 5%.

The Dungarvan level remained as it was and some people in the town think that unfair. For the most part, the feedback I received was that people expected the rate to increase. People were consistently told over the course of a year that there was a good chance the rate would increase. It is worth acknowledging the direction given by the Minister, and everybody is taking credit for this in Waterford, including councillors and officials.

The Minister said that if he could put more money into the local government fund and direct that it be used to secure a reduction during amalgamation, it would and should happen. That is what has happened. I acknowledge what he has been saying in the past year and what actually did occur. I acknowledge the work of Waterford Chamber, including that of Nora Widger and Nick Donnelly. I acknowledge also the work of Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber, including that of Jenny Beresford and Colette Bannon.

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