Deputy leader says move would give businesses fighting chance of surviving
Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman has gone to Coalition colleagues with the Budget proposal. Photo: Collins
The Green Party is pushing for a commercial rates refund for more than 100,000 small businesses in Budget negotiations.
The party believe the move would be a major boost for shops, restaurants and other small businesses struggling to compete with online retailers and multinational businesses.
The plan would see small businesses that pay rates in the region of €3,000 per year receive a complete refund on their commercial rates while big businesses would be given a 50pc reduction.
Green Party deputy leader Róisín Garvey said the move would help support small employers while also recognising the vital role they play in drawing people into towns and villages.
“Family-owned shops, restaurants and businesses form the heart of our towns and villages – they breathe life into our urban centres and are a key part of what makes each community unique,” she said.
Whether it’s in our city suburbs or the smallest village, we have to support our small businesses
“In recent years, however, we’ve seen more and more family names disappear from over shop doors to be replaced by big brands or even worse, empty spaces.
“Whether it’s in our city suburbs or the smallest village, we have to support our small businesses and give them a fighting chance of competing against the big boys. A similar rates refund has proved very effective in Scotland and would mean one less bill to worry about for such businesses.”
Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman wrote to the other Coalition leaders, along with Finance Minister Jack Chambers and Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe, asking that the rates rebate be instated on a permanent basis. A similar scheme was introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Small businesses are charged rates by their local authority based on the “rateable valuation” of the property, which is equivalent to its rental value minus certain costs. The final bill is calculated by multiplying the rateable value by the local rate, which varies according to each council.
Under the Green Party proposal, businesses with a rateable value of up to €15,000 would qualify for a full refund on their final rates bill, while businesses with a valuation of between €15,000 and €20,000 would benefit from a 50pc refund.
