Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Like every other question that has been asked, it is legislation from the programme for Government. I wish to give the breakdown on Roscommon because it is important. A total of 44% of businesses will see a reduction in their rates, 12% will remain unchanged and 44% will see an increase. I wish to give some of the figures. One businessman in Cortober in Carrick-on-Shannon will see his rates go from €44,000 to more than €130,000. There is another man who is paying rates of €15,000 or €16,000 at present. They are going to rise to €50,000. A tsunami is going to hit this Government in the coming months and it is not prepared for it. Small business people are livid about this and the Government must get involved.

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For example, some of these people were going to create extra jobs but tell me that now they will not. Will the Taoiseach give me any comfort today for those people who are absolutely out of their minds with regard to the revaluation of their property?

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