Tom Shehan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would like to pick up on what Senator Keane had to say. Am I right in my understanding that there is discretion within the local authority regarding start-ups? I was led to believe this was the case some time ago when action was taken in a section of a town in the south of Ireland that was commercially dead. Nothing was happening in that section of the town. I applauded the town manager at the time because he introduced an incentive whereby businesses had to pay half-rates for the first two years. Was that initiative taken by himself or was it allowable under regulation or legislation? He showed great initiative to try to regenerate that section of the town, where many premises which had been closed and boarded up were becoming unsightly. There was a certain degree of take-up on that. Is that in the legislation? That is the question I am asking, or the message I want to get out, on behalf of people who might be considering starting a small business or a new business. Would the local authority be amenable to the possibility of providing for some concession like that? Some people say that if small businesses cannot pay its rates, it should not be in business. The first two years are the toughest years for small businesses. In many cases, the rates bill is the final bill that cannot be overcome. If an incentive could be provided, that would give discretion to the local authority, regardless of whether such an initiative is currently in place. It would stimulate investment and bring lifeblood back into areas in certain towns where business is not being carried out.