Denis Landy (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Like Senator Mary Ann O'Brien, I wish to raise the issue of commercial rates. The proof of the pudding is in the eating, but some of the pudding has been eaten. The local authorities in County Tipperary are being amalgamated and it has been predetermined that the commercial rate will be between 2% and 11% higher than that charged by town councils and that it will apply across the county. This information has been given to the councils. All rates will, therefore, increase across the county. Last week in reply to Deputy John Deasy in the Lower House the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government said the concept was that there would be harmonisation of rates to the lower level within each county. That flies in the face of what is happening in County Tipperary and what has happened in Waterford city in the past few weeks where businesses are up in arms because of this issue. Rates in the city have been re-evaluated and gone through the roof. I refer to the policy document adopted by the Government last October entitled, Putting People First, paragraph 6.7.9 of which states:

Where town rates are currently below the relevant county level (around two thirds of cases), it may be considered appropriate to apply a moratorium up to say 2015, with phasing of any increases over an appropriate subsequent period. Where there is a mix of towns in a county with rates above and below the county level, phasing should allow an equalisation over a subsequent fixed period of years.

The document clearly states there will be harmonisation, yet the Minister stated the opposite in a reply to a Topical Issue debate in the Lower House. In County Tipperary commercial rates will increase by between 2% and 11%. We need to find out what the position is.