Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 July 2022
401. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if consideration will be given to introducing a commercial rates waiver for businesses struggling with soaring inflation costs (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39567/22]
View answerLocal authorities levy rates on property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015.
In order to support businesses and ratepayers, and in recognition of the impacts of COVID-19, the Government funded the cost of commercial rates waivers in recent years. These waivers applied for significant portions of 2020, 2021 and into 2022. These were unprecedented measures, which offered support to businesses and financial certainty to local authorities.
Government has the challenge of balancing competing demands for finite resources. There are no current plans to extend the COVID-19 commercial rates waiver beyond Q1 2022 or to introduce further rates subvention from central Government.
Local authorities are fully aware of the exceptional circumstances faced by many ratepayers in the last nearly two years and have worked with ratepayers to agree flexible payment options that reflect capacity to pay.
