Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I know the Deputy is aware that the Commissioner of Valuation carried out a review of valuations in our county just recently. The Deputy mentioned Dún Laoghaire. The council has a shop front improvement scheme whereby it pays 50% of the shop front refurbishments costs up to €3,000. In our county, the vacant commercial premises incentive scheme involves the council refunding rates for businesses in premises that have been vacant for over six months. It gives 75% for the first year, 50% for the second year and 25% for the third year. Business priming funding is available for micro-enterprise within the first 18 months of the start up. There are businesses other than shops in Dún Laoghaire or any other town. They include financial businesses. I ask the Deputies to ask them to visit their local enterprise office and if they are under pressure, to look at Microfinance Ireland.

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