Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour) | Oireachtas source

In relation to the commitment in the programme for Government focused on reinvigorating and protecting infrastructure throughout rural Ireland, I welcome the initiative being overseen by the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Heather Humphreys, to put in place a grants system to enable dwellings and accommodation in villages and small towns to be refurbished, renovated and made available for habitation. In the context of the revaluation process which has commenced, proposed valuation certificates have issued which are exorbitant by any measure. They are completely theoretical, desk-bound assessments which will wipe out and damage businesses and shops in rural villages and towns. In Longford and Westmeath, demands have issued which will see a fivefold increase in rates. In my own village of Ballynacargy, three businesses whose owners I spoke to last night will go to the wall in 2018. What can be done to address this madness where one arm of the Government is acting contrary to the objectives of the other arm? What is the Taoiseach going to do in terms of the programme for Government commitment to protect businesses in rural Ireland and to offer relief in respect of the huge burden of rates? In one business, rates went from €400 to €2,300. One may make Larry and Tom of that. It is a nearly sixfold increase.

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