40 ways to improve Ireland this lent (#5- Abolish high rates)

The Lenten challenge - 40 ways to improve Ireland today with evidence from our leading economists, business people and politicians

The Problem: High commercial rates are currently putting already under pressure small businesses to the wall. Many will close, not due to lack of business, but due to these high taxes. Local authorities are already over whelmed and seemingly cannot afford to lower these rates.

The Solution: These rates must be dropped immediately or they will further contract the local economy. If central government cannot afford to increase funding for local authorities, and if they are not prepared to pass on more authority to local councils (such as tax raising powers), then the only way to do it will be for massive reform of local authority spending. Junkets will have to be abolished or properly policed to prevent waste.