Call for rational rates system

The conditions under which local councils have written off more than €500m worth of commercial rates are not consistent and the Government should create a rational commercial rates system in which just one Department is responsible, according to Fine Gael TD John Deasy.

The Waterford TD said he believed the current system in which at least three government departments are involved as dysfunctional and not business friendly.

Speaking in the Dáil, Mr Deasy referred to Wednesday’s front page of the Irish Examiner which showed many councils across the country have been forced to write off over €500m in rates during the recession because so many businesses had collapsed.