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

Early last year, many small businesses across various counties, Longford and Westmeath being two, received rates revaluation bills. In some cases, the revalued rates were in excess of 400% higher. At the time, if the Taoiseach would care to listen, the Government and many Deputies on the Government side reassured small businesses and told them that a new valuation Bill would be introduced before these bills kicked in. The new bills will kick in on 1 January 2018 but, as a result of a parliamentary question I asked last week, I have learned that the new valuation legislation is still in the Attorney General's office, where it has been since last April. When are struggling businesses going to see the new valuation Bill introduced in the House in order to ensure that they pay affordable commercial rates? If something is not done-----

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