Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the efforts of the Minister to address issues raised on this very matter on Committee Stage, notwithstanding the fact that Deputy John Deasy said obvious examples throughout the country were given to the Minister. There is a mechanism by which a special case can be made for an extension of time. I thank the Minister for his commitment in that regard and hope he will be amenable to such requests from various councils throughout the country.

What consultation has the Minister had, if any, with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform? Has he discussed with him or the Government as a whole the possibility of considering a complete overhaul of the rates valuation system? It is and has been a crushing tool for many businesses throughout the country during their efforts to get back on their feet and retain business. As we said on many occasions during various debates, in committee rooms and the House, the valuation system and mechanism used are archaic, to say the least. Rents have decreased by up to 70% in many locations throughout the country, yet rates have not decreased to that extent. One would be doing well to have experienced a decrease of 5% in the past five years because of the fall in regular revenue from local authorities' traditional sources. I will not get into the debate on the funding of local authorities; we will do so on another day. Considering the unfortunate fact that the Minister could not honour his commitment on rent reviews, a concerted and more determined effort should be made regarding commercial rates. What preliminary discussion, if any, has the Minister had with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform? Has the Cabinet discussed this issue? Is it the intention of the Government to overhaul the commercial rates system?

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