John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome and support this long overdue legislation. We all value the importance of GAA, rugby, golf and other clubs across the country that provide a worthwhile service to their communities.

The existing commercial rates system unfairly penalises clubs that have a licensed premises by charging rates on the entire complex rather than just on the bar area. I am involved with a club in Enniscorthy that pays rates of approximately €15,000 per year and I am told that in other parts of the country rates can be up to €40,000 for sporting clubs that have a bar licence. This creates a very unfair burden on clubs that are trying to provide facilities. During the boom, builders and developers used to pour huge amounts of sponsorship money into GAA clubs in particular and that has dried up. Clubs are running revenue raising initiatives such as lotteries and bingo to survive.

The Minister mentioned technical difficulties. Having been in a few Departments when we were in government, I know officials always raise technical difficulties. However, the Attorney General and senior officials in the Department are well able to overcome the technical difficulties, including those the Minister outlined in his speech, and provide a solution to the issue. Deputy Cowen has called for an amendment to the Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012, which is before the Seanad. That is the most appropriate place to deal with this in an urgent manner. The Minister said the Bill will come before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform. How long will it remain before the committee before a decision is taken? Clubs cannot wait much longer.

The club with which I have been involved, and of which I have been chairperson at different times over the years, provides a facility for 30 teams from under sixes to seniors, including women playing camogie and ladies' football. The club is at the heart of the community and hosts other organisations such as clubs for bridge, senior citizens, art, music, men's sheds and the Delightful Dollies women's club, free of charge. It is becoming more and more expensive to run such a club, and it is unfair that the rates are based on the entire area rather than just the bar and lounge area. We are not seeking unfair competition with other pubs but requesting a fair and equitable system and for clubs not to have to pay huge amounts of money to local authorities every year in rates.

I ask the Minister and the Government to accept the Bill and move it on to the next Stage. There is nothing sinister or underhanded in the Bill. It is a response to GAA and other clubs throughout the country, which have been seeking to have it changed for many years. As some Deputies have pointed out, it probably should have happened when we were in government. It did not, and we are where we are. With the Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill before the Seanad, there is an opportunity to make the amendment to implement the change for which Deputy Cowen has called. If this happens, it will be fully supported by all sides of the House. More importantly, it will enable struggling clubs to pay their rates and survive into the future. Although my local club pays its rates on a monthly basis, which the local authority is accepting, the rates are a major burden on clubs. The Bill is worthwhile and the Government should accept it, move on to the next Stage, get around the technical difficulties, and have it included in the Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill that is before the Seanad.

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