Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill, and I thank Deputy Cowen for bringing it forward. It has been needed for some time. While there are technical issues, which the Minister addressed, I agree with the objective of the Bill. Sports clubs with bar facilities should be liable for rates only on the part of the premises that has the licence to sell alcoholic beverages. For sports clubs to pay rates on the entire premises, including changing rooms, showers, kitchens, meeting rooms or indoor sports halls, is ridiculous. I recently met the Meath County Board of the GAA and a number of representative of local clubs, and it was brought to my attention that rates are also charged on signs. There is not much point in a company contributing to a club in this way it if is going to be charged rates on it.

A number of years ago I was told a particular club in Meath paid rates of over €20,000. At the time, I assumed it was just that particular club and I did not realise it was an issue throughout the county. Only recently has it come to my attention that at least ten clubs in Meath are in arrears. While it has been an problem for some time, it is only coming to the forefront now because of the economic downturn. The clubs are run on a voluntary basis and make their money through fund-raising. While we in Ireland are all very generous and still give something when we have nothing, when one has nothing to give, it is very hard to give. Fund-raising is not bringing in as much money as previously, and that is why the problem is becoming apparent now.

The issue was brought before a Fianna Fáil Minister in 2001 and was rejected. Had it been dealt with then, clubs could have saved 13 years of rates. For our club in Meath, paying over €20,000 in each of those 13 years, that is a hell of a lot of money. Clubs are in tens of thousands of euro of debt because of it. Nobody wants to go to court, and we need to resolve the issue as soon as possible. While some people would prefer if clubs paid no rates, we must consider the fact that some clubs run their bars on a commercial basis while others open them only when there is a match or an event on. We must be careful not to create discrimination, for example, in a situation where a club is in a village or next to a local pub which pays rates.

It is extremely unfair to impose this burden on clubs, where people work on a voluntary basis, to pay rates on premises that are clearly sports facilities. Local sports clubs are always the life and soul of a community. I grew up in an extremely dedicated GAA family. We went to all the matches; my father trained football teams, my uncles played, and all my cousins play. From an early age I saw the dedication on the part of not just the players, but the committees and volunteers who work around them. An entire community is involved in the GAA and other sporting facilities. Athletics, tennis and other clubs are appearing, and they should also benefit from this. Nobody wants them to disappear.

The cost to implement the Bill would be small in comparison to other issues. While I am happy we are allowing the Bill to pass today, notwithstanding the technical issues I do not want it to be passed and then for nothing to happen for a long time. It must be addressed now and I urge the Minister to see that it is implemented as soon as possible or included by way of amendment to the Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill that is with the Department and will, hopefully, come before the Seanad shortly.

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