Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

That is welcome. The other issue is the possibility of giving a rates exemption to new businesses which do not have an impact on an existing business within the catchment area. The term "displacement" is used by the Department in the context of Leader funding. Leader programmes can fund a particular project if it does not have an impact on another project within the same catchment area. I suggest that a similar provision should be put in place for rates. Let us say, for example, there is a town which does not have a shoe shop. The local authority for that town could decide, in conjunction with the retailers, to exempt for two years a shoe shop established on the main street, which would increase footfall - literally - into the town and would also benefit the other businesses. That would help to alleviate some of the pressures on businesses. I hope the Minister will give it some consideration.

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