Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)

Sinn Féin has always opposed local property tax. We saw it for what it was. It was imposed at a time of austerity. It was not about services or fulfilling the needs of local authorities. It was literally about ensuring money was brought in because of the dreadful circumstances the State found itself in. It was about us following through on the edicts of the International Monetary Fund, IMF, and others.

When we talk about taxing wealth, we cannot think or talk about the family home. It must fall into a different category. I accept that some of the reason this will be carried out is on the basis of ensuring in November that the increases would be somewhat reduced, but with increasing house prices - we know about the significant issue of the housing crisis and its huge impact - people will consequently have to pay more tax on their properties. We are not necessarily taking into account their ability to pay. I accept that there are criteria people can meet to avail of deferrals, but deferral means it is still on the books. Someone has to pay and there will be a percentage - I believe it is 4% - accrual in interest. That in itself is not a solution.

I agree with what Deputy John McGuinness said. A huge question about local authority services is the old one of what people are getting. It is about the ability of the local authority to deliver. I might do something similar to the Deputy by raising a particular road, that being, the N53, which connects Dundalk with the N2 at Castleblayney. An upgrade is to happen and we await tendering and TII funding for that. It is for the stretch from Hackballscross to Rassan. There is a particular issue at the turn-off on the N53 for Crossmaglen. In recent weeks, there have been a number of smashes. A local pointed out to me that none of the smashes involved trucks, given their height. There seems to be a crest on the road that affects vision at a particular point. We cannot rule out that speed always creates a scenario, but there are certain issues that need to be addressed.

The ability to increase the LPT by 25% has some element of blackmail. It determines who will be screwed over. Is it the person who has to pay the LPT or will it be that we have reduced services? However, even if a local authority such as mine were to go for that 25%, no one in this room could think that would deal with all the issues that exist, such as housing maintenance, road upkeep, issues that impact on communities such as dumping, estate management or any of the other pieces the local authority is at least somewhat responsible for. We need to get real about how we deliver local authority funding and services.

In the 20 seconds I have left, I will point out - I hope the Minister will address it - that there seems to be a particular issue. St. John of God has its own an approved housing body and is able to deliver disability housing using the capital assistance scheme. It has a number of houses and is in discussions with Louth and Meath county councils. There are rentals at the moment for at least eight residents or so and it looks like the kibosh has been put on that. There seems to be an issue with the Department of public expenditure. I realise I am off topic with this, but this is my first opportunity to raise it and it might be the only one I have to deliver the message. I ask the Minister if this issue can be looked at. St. John of God has also told me that there is an issue with the capital advance leasing facility, CALF. It looks as though disability housing is being cut off. I brought it up with the Minister for housing privately, but it needs to be addressed.

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