Fine Gael’s Spokesperson on Local Government, introduced a Motion in the Dail to freeze Business Rates which was opposed by the Government and Labour.

FG’s Councillor Derek Mitchell said that rates should be reduced because they increased too much in recent years. This years Pension Levy reduced Council staff wages by about 7%.

The Minister would not allow the sacrifice of the staff to reduce rates. This could have reduced rates by 3% but Minister Gormley insisted that all the saving went back to Central Government even though Ratepayers pay about a third of the cost of these wages.

Next year this Levy and any other staff savings must be used to reduce rates.