Written answers

Wednesday, 19 January 2022

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Commercial Rates

Photo of Sorca ClarkeSorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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482. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if consideration is being given by his Department to continue the local authority commercial rates waiver (details supplied). [63411/21]

Photo of Peter BurkePeter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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The Government recouped €729m to local authorities to fund the cost of a rates waiver in 2020. This meant that for eligible businesses their commercial rates were funded by Government for nine months of 2020. A further €424m was recouped to local authorities by Government to fund the cost of a nine month waiver from Q1 to Q3 2021. These are unprecedented measures, which offered support to businesses and financial certainty to local authorities.

The Government, in Budget 2022, announced a more targeted commercial rates waiver for Q4 2021 to cover the hospitality and tourism sectors and €62.3m was allocated for this purpose. On 3 December an extension of the targeted waiver covering the hospitality and tourism sectors was announced. It is recognised that these sectors make a significant contribution to local authority income through their commercial rates, and to local economies generally by enticing visitors, boosting walk-in trade for other businesses and providing employment. These waivers are intended to assist specific sectors as they continue to be severely impacted by COVID-19 restrictions beyond September 2021 and need support to get back up and running.

As with all public health measures and associated supports, the waiver of commercial rates will be kept under review.

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