Aidan Davitt (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I rise today to talk about rates and the revaluation of rates, which has been going on throughout the country at present. Recently we had the revaluation in Westmeath which brought in two reasonably sized provincial towns, Mullingar and Athlone, both with populations of approximately 30,000. It has been an eye-opening experience for small retailers. As we know already, in rural Ireland small retail businesses have gone to the wall and are non-existent. I feel that the next rung on the ladder is going to be provincial towns. This is coming down the track at speed. I have seen five different businesses over the last month that are seriously considering closing due to the revaluation of rates.One of the businesses in question has been in existence for over 100 years. Senator Byrne hit on it earlier when she said there is a change in shopping patterns. Up to 85% of clothing in the UK is now bought online, while in Ireland it is 60% and heading in that direction. We really have to look at a system where net profit is compared to rates. There will have to be changes or we will have no more shops and town centres will be decimated.