Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Everything the Minister of State said is true, including that the statutory obligation to collect levies on property used for commercial purposes is the council's. Why then is the council still seeking to collect rates in respect of the changing rooms, upstairs playing hall and gym of the sports club in my area, none of which have a commercial aspect? They are run on a voluntary basis and funded by way of fund-raising events in the village.

I appreciate all of the palaver with regard to the legalities around this issue, but I take this opportunity to inform the Minister of State that the day the sheriff arrives to remove items from the four elderly men who are trustees of my local club, I will be standing in front of them to prevent property from being taken away. There is no goodwill in this regard. The Department needs to look at this from the point of view the many organisations that are the backbone of our communities and are volunteering their time, services and effort to the provision of sports and recreational activities and the fund-raising events required in this regard. These people are being told, leaving aside the services they have provided for the past year, that they will continue to be pursued for commercial rates, which, as has already been acknowledged through the changes made to the legislation, were wrong.

I call on the Minister to intervene in this matter with the local authorities involved and ask that in the spirit of goodwill they renegotiate the outstanding rates on the new commercial rates basis.

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