McGrath's calls for clarity on commercial rates

Independent TD Mattie McGrath has accused the outgoing Government of leaving the Local Authorities and their ratepayers at the bottom of the barrel after it is confirmed that Local Authorities are yet to receive guidance on how to apply the much-publicised commercial rates waiver.

 

In response to a Parliamentary Question from Deputy McGrath in relation to the commercial rates waiver, the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government confirmed that despite the fact that the Government announced on May 2nd that a waiver of commercial rates would apply to all businesses that have been forced to close due to public health requirements, from March 27th, for a three-month period, guidelines on how this waiver is to be applied is yet to be finalised and sent to Local Authorities.

 

The Tipperary TD said: "The Government further confirmed that until such time as such guidance is finalised, Local Authorities continue to levy rates demands as normal. The failure to deal with this matter with the urgency that it required has meant that businesses that have had their doors closed for 3 months and more are still receiving huge rates demands from the Local Authority as the local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes.

 

"This is a shocking indictment on the priority that the government has given to supporting our ratepayers. These businesses are the lifeblood of our towns and villages and what they need from Government is an urgent response not a delay of over 3 months to approve and finalise a commercial rates waiver.” 

“We are told that the Programme for Government commits to setting out how commercial rates will be treated for the remainder of 2020, as a priority action for the new Government. We are now two months after the much-publicised announcement that rates will be waived for three months and this is yet to happen. This is of little use to the businesses who are distressed as they face their rates bill while their doors are barely open.

 

"It is clear to see that those finalising this matter have never faced a rates bill and clearly do not understand or appreciate the urgency of this matter. Our ratepayers and our local authorities need this matter to be dealt with the real urgency that it deserves.” .