I ask the Minister for an update on the fiscal measures currently in place to support enterprise development and investment in regional towns and rural communities; the further tax-based initiatives being examined to promote balanced economic growth; and if he will make a statement on the matter

Sentiment score: 0.79

The Tánaiste will be aware that the national planning framework proposes to distribute the future population growth of the country equally between the greater Dublin region, the regional cities and the metropolitan areas that surround them. To facilitate that, we need enhanced infrastructure development, and we need to increase housing options for people in those locations. We also need to look at enterprise and fiscal measures to promote the development of industries at home and attract greater foreign direct investment into those regional cities. I do not think we should rule out targeted fiscal measures at those locations. There is one other thing I would like to get the Tánaiste's opinion on. We have seen it recently with Dublin City Council. In fact, I think Galway City Council made the initial invitation to or request of the Department of Finance to introduce some type of tourism tax, where the regional or local authority could benefit from additional revenues generated by people coming to spend time in the cities.

Sentiment score: 0.37

I very much welcome the Tánaiste's support for the initiative. My understanding of it is that while the local authorities would be the gatherers of the tax, it does require Department of Finance legislative change to try to make sure it is possible and feasible for them to do so. There is a sincerity and a genuine need for it in those cities or regional towns where there are significant numbers of tourists. There is an increased need for services, such as street cleaning at festivals, and all the types of services that visitors expect to see when they come to enjoy these occasions. I am delighted to see the Tánaiste is open to the idea. I hope that we can progress it and allow the local authorities to include it as part of their budgetary framework in terms of revenue generation.

Sentiment score: 0.55