Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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178. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if a series of queries raised by a person (details supplied) in respect of businesses that did not qualify for rates waivers but that are adversely affected by the pandemic in terms of their revenue levels will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49445/21]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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In recognition of the impacts of COVID 19 and the associated public health restrictions, the Government put in place a targeted commercial rates waiver for the first nine months of 2021. It applied to businesses most seriously affected by the restrictions. Automatic eligibility extended to hospitality including hotels, pubs and restaurants, leisure and entertainment, personal services such as hairdressers and barbers, and various other sectors. Categories of commercial property, such as offices, industrial premises and banks were not automatically eligible, but may qualify if they can provide proof of serious impact to their local authority.

Such proof of serious financial impact includes evidence that the ratepayer is receiving support under the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) operated by the Revenue Commissioners or evidence that turnover from the relevant business activity in the claim period does not exceed 25% of the average weekly turnover in 2019 (or 2020 for new businesses).

As provision has been made for businesses that do not automatically qualify to apply, there are no plans to broaden the scope of automatic eligibility nor are there plans to amend the conditions under which the waiver can be applied to ratepayers not automatically eligible. The 2021 waiver was necessarily more targeted than that which applied in 2020, reflecting the need to ensure public resources are directed where most needed. Ratepayers that did not qualify for the 2021 waiver should engage directly with the relevant local authority regarding payment options.