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

Will a proposal be forthcoming from the Government to amend the valuation Bill? I am conscious of the global valuation in recent weeks, under which process a reduction in the rates applicable to large utilities such as the ESB, eircom and Bord Gáis Energy was provided for, with a continuance of the policy not to apply rates to Irish Water, despite the fact that €11 billion worth of assets had been transferred to it. Is the Tánaiste aware that as a result of this many local authorities may be forced to withdraw from the process of agreeing to a budget? The Government has directed all local authorities to agree to a budget, regardless of whether this requires them to increase property taxes or commercial rates, despite the fact that there was a commitment from the Government to overhaul the commercial rates system. This means the same old people are being asked to foot the bill.

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