Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Valuation Office commenced a process of revaluing how rates were charged to commercial customers a number of years ago. Letters have issued from that office. I can only speak for my constituency of Longford-Westmeath but these letters have issued in the past number of days and have proposed significant increases in commercial rates to customers. How businesses in Mullingar will be affected is the lead story in the Westmeath Topictoday. I have been contacted by businesses in Granard, Longford and Ballymahon. To give the House a flavour of the increases, rates have increased from €500 to €1,270; €2,766 to €4,620; and €650 to €4,070. How can small businesses sustain increases like these? In the programme for Government, the Government committed to revamping how commercial rates are charged to small businesses. When will we see action on these proposals because businesses cannot sustain increases such as these?

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