Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan. This is an important subject relating to the future of Ireland and how we go about getting our economy back on track. I believe every party is at one in this regard. We all want to see jobs created.

While I was heartened by the speech given earlier by the Minister of State, Deputy Kelleher, having read it again I am unhappy with some aspects of it. I believe the Minister of State's speech is simply putting words on paper. The Minister of State stated that the Government is reducing the administrative burden by driving better regulation, that local authority charges remain a great concern of the business sector and that it is conducting an efficiency review of the local authority system to identify savings which will reduce pressure on small businesses. It is a pity the Minister of State did not explain what he meant in that regard. Perhaps the Minister of State, Deputy Lenihan, will do so when replying.

I attended a meeting yesterday of Mayo County Council, the county manager and director of services of which is obliged to meet with Oireachtas Members. One of the biggest burdens on local authorities is the 30% local contribution they must come up with in relation to the creation of new waste water treatment and facilities. Most local authorities do not have the rate base to do so. The local authority business sector is lumbered with finding this 30% contribution. Perhaps the Minister of State, Deputy Lenihan, will spell out in detail how this will be done given the statement earlier by the Minister of State, Deputy Kelleher, that the Government is seeking to take the pressure off small businesses.