Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)

I call for a debate on the funding of local authorities. The combined total owed by local authorities is in excess of €4 billion. That is quite a considerable amount of money. Senator Butler stated that the vast majority of local authorities are controlled by Fine Gael and the Labour Party and that they should reduce the rates on commercial properties throughout the country. Rates should be reduced. Many businesses throughout the country are in very serious financial difficulties and a reduction in rates and water charges would go a small way to alleviating them. However, local authorities also have serious difficulties. Throughout the country the buoyancy of rates is decreasing because ratable businesses are closing. It is not good enough for Senator Butler to state that Fine Gael and the Labour Party have a duty to reduce rates without the intervention of the Government. The Government needs to give extra funding to local authorities to provide services because otherwise services will go. Local authorities will then have to increase rates because they do not have sufficient funding to balance their books. Will the Leader arrange a debate urgently on local authority funding because this is their budgetary season?

I would also like a debate on the National Roads Authority and the funding for national and county roads, to know what roads will be subject to cutbacks.