Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 July 2020
429. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of businesses in County Clare that have had their rates waived; the number that have requested a waiver; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20901/20]
View answer444. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of businesses in the Kildare County Council area that have had their rates waived; the number that requested a waiver; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19781/20]
View answer451. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of businesses in the Fingal County Council area that have had their rates waived; the number that have requested a waiver; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19844/20]
View answer460. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of businesses in County Wicklow that have had their rates waived; the number that requested a waiver; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19893/20]
View answer467. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of businesses in the Tipperary County Council area that have had their rates waived; the number that have requested a waiver; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19943/20]
View answer490. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of businesses in counties Cavan and Monaghan have had their rates waived by county; the number that have requested a waiver; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20190/20]
View answer507. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of businesses in County Donegal that have had their rates waived; the total number that have requested a waiver; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20440/20]
View answer525. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of businesses in the Meath County Council area that have had their rates waived; the number that have requested a waiver; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20711/20]
View answer536. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of businesses in Leitrim, Sligo, Donegal and Roscommon county council areas that have had their rates waived; the number that requested a waiver; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20798/20]
View answer543. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of businesses in the Kerry County Council area that have had their rates waived; the number that have requested a waiver; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20828/20]
View answer559. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of businesses in County Kildare that have had their rates waived; the number that have requested a waiver; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21016/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 429, 444, 451, 460, 467, 490, 507, 525, 536, 543 and 559 together.
The levying and collection of rates are legally matters for each individual local authority. Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes.
An initial three-month waiver of rates for businesses forced to close business due to COVID-19 was announced in early May.
In order to enhance the supports available for enterprise, and in recognition of the fact that not only have many ratepayers been forced to close business due to the public health requirements, but many others who remained open have suffered significant reductions in turnover, this waiver has now been extended for a duration of six months to the end of September and the categories of enterprise who will be eligible to avail of it has been expanded.
The implementation of this waiver is a matter for local authorities and accordingly, the information sought in the question is not available in my Department.
A 100% waiver will be applied to all businesses in each local authority area, for a six-month period to the end of September, with the exclusion of a small number of categories. The rationale for the exclusion of certain categories of ratepayers is that their operations were not as severely impacted by the pandemic, coupled with the need to direct resources appropriately.
To support both the local government sector and the ratepayers impacted, €600m has been allocated by Government to fund the cost of a waiver of commercial rates for six months for eligible businesses impacted by the COVID 19 pandemic. This will take the form of a credit in lieu of rates.
The Credit in Lieu of Commercial Rates shall be administered by local authorities.
Credits in lieu of commercial rates applied to ratepayer accounts under this scheme shall be applied as a credit on the rate bill for 2020. Local authorities should automatically apply a 100% credit in lieu of commercial rates, for a six-month period, to classes and categories of occupied rateable property where the occupying business is not in an excluded category.
