Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)

-----came up with a concrete proposal as to how it was going to do this. Not once did Sinn Féin say which playgrounds it would shut down, which roads it was not going to fund, which libraries it was going to close or which community groups that get amenity grants in the constituency were going to lose funding as a result. All we are hearing from Sinn Féin is soundbite after soundbite. I will not sit here and take lectures from Sinn Féin on its economic policy. This Government does not have bags of sterling lying around. As a country, we have to make sure that each local authority has the opportunity, ability and capacity to make sure it is doing right by its county. The councillors in local authorities do a fantastic job, particularly in Kilkenny which I represent. They do what is right for their county and make sure many different projects in the constituency get looked after.

I want to make a couple of specific points regarding the property tax, one of which is regarding the revised method for calculating local property tax liabilities, with the upcoming valuation period lasting for five years. I mentioned this, but it is really important that we can give certainty and clarity to every single constituent that the proposed local property tax regime will stay in place for a period of five years. Notwithstanding that, local authorities have the opportunity to increase or decrease their local property tax band. I welcome that there is more scope given to local authorities and that each local authority will continue to have the option to either reduce it by 15%, if that is what the local authority feels is the right thing to do for its residents, or increase it by 25%, which would mean even more funding would be pumped back into the local communities. Each local authority is best placed to decide what would best suit its particular county or municipal district.

The widening of all valuation bands by 20% was mentioned. I would like to see the bands potentially increase a bit more to 25% or 30% if possible. The increase by €5 in the band 1 charge to €95 and the increase by €10 in the band 2 charge to €235 per annum are minimal. When we increased the local property tax in Kilkenny by 15% a number of years ago, concerns were raised by some people, but when they saw the benefit of what was being pumped back into the community, it was most welcome. When one can see the difference it makes on the ground, it is huge. The additional revenue gathered from the local property tax in each local authority goes to funding local services, community development through reinvestment in communities, amenity grants, festival grants and infrastructure improvement. Kilkenny was able to get way more roads done as a result of the local property tax. Way more footpaths were upgraded and more additional lighting was done in towns and villages throughout county, in places such as Graiguenamanagh, Thomastown and Callan. Many local parks, playgrounds and recreational facilities are funded through the local property tax. It makes a huge difference.

In addition, local property tax revenue can be used to promote business development and tourism. Kilkenny is the festival capital of Ireland. We are so proud of that. Every single weekend we have a festival of stature and note. Part of that is funded through the local property tax, as are library and cultural services. Schemes such as the painted town scheme help businesses. Local property tax is here to stay, but each local authority has to retain the right to do what is right for its particular county, rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.

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