Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I too would like to be associated with the kind words of tribute to our dear colleague, Senator Jimmy Harte, on his retirement. As everyone has testified, he is a sincere and thorough gentleman. I wish him and his family well in his further recovery. Please God, it will be complete in due course.

I would like to be associated with the call by Senator Hayden for a debate on housing. I congratulate Threshold on its great work and the many thousands of people it has saved from homelessness, despite the scale of the problem which still exists.

I welcome the boost for rural towns and villages through the new €30 million rural regeneration scheme. Despite what the Opposition might say, it will support the revitalisation of towns and villages, provide better places to live and work and increase their potential to support growing economic activity. The scheme’s initiatives will be administered through local authorities with oversight provided by local community development committees. We need to find a way to restrict the power of the large retail multiples to impose their big-box designs on edge and out-of-town sites. This is one of the greatest challenges we face in halting the decline of towns. There might be some measure that can be devised to provide a more level playing pitch. As has been said by Senator Comiskey, many small shopkeepers, many of whom we know, are finding it difficult to face their rates bills. I hope the Government will consider this. Will the Leader take these matters on board, particularly the housing debate?