Ms Flora Crowe:

Clare County Council was due to increase the rates on businesses but on the back of all the publicity I got in County Clare last week, as far as I know, councillors have rejected that motion and they are not going to increase the rates. Sometimes councillors or the general public are not aware of the costs on businesses. Thankfully, Clare County Council will not now increase its rates but unfortunately we are in the middle of a revaluation process. Every business I have spoken to has had its rates increased. I have not come across any that have had them decreased. I will not find out about mine until January but I can only assume they will be increased as part of the general revaluation method. The more we highlight this, the better because Clare County Council was going to increase the rates and now it has pulled back on that.