Rates waivers and flooding report
Deputy Naughten asks when local authorities can use rates waivers to attract businesses to empty main-street premises and also raises a flooding report; the Minister undertakes to reply on both matters.
Throughout the country there are hundreds, if not thousands, of empty shop units on every main street. Section 2 of the Local Government (Rates) (No. 2) Act 1970 permits local authorities to grant rate waivers or reductions for new entrants, particularly where it adds to a deficiency in the retail mix on a main street. When will that provision be enacted to facilitate local authorities in incentivising new businesses to become established on main streets where a deficiency has been identified in a particular town?
The Taoiseach commissioned Deputy Heydon to produce a report on flooding in the Shannon basin. When will that report be published?
Comment on this
I will have to get back to the Deputy on both questions.