RATES FLEXIBILITY NEEDED FOR STRUGGLING COUNTY BUSINESSES

Date Published: 04-Jan-2011

Galway county council needs to be flexible in dealing with businesses struggling to pay commercial rates.

That’s according to Galway Senator Fidelma Healy Eames, who says five businesses in Clifden recently closed down, partly because of high rates.

In one case, a hairdresser crippled by rates of 3000 euro, felt she had no choice but to move her premises elsewhere.

At last month’s budget meeting, the county council agreed to keep the commercial rate for businesses in the county at 66 point 59- the same rate as 2010.

But Senator Healy Eames says the council needs to converse with businesses on a one to one basis.