Government must take control of commercial rates again

Date: 16/02/2011
Posted by: Darragh

In light of the ongoing failure of many local authorities to act in support of the business community I believe the time has come for the Government to again assume control of commercial rates and force those rates down to support businesses and jobs.

Only Fianna Fáil is offering concrete plans on a sector by sector basis which tangibly demonstrate exactly how jobs can and will be created. Our policy is to promote a pro-enterprise culture to create and maintain jobs, and support in every way possible the small enterprises directly supporting 700,000 jobs here.

We want to ensure the right tax environment exists for small businesses; that they are not burdened by red tape; and it is an absolute priority of Fianna Fáil to ensure that the flow of credit is restored for them.

Comprehensive reform of old BES Scheme into a new Employment and Investment Incentive is underway where the limit that can be raised by companies will be increased from €2 million to €10 million, and the amount that can be raised in any twelve-month period will be increased from €1.5 million to €2.5 million.
Fianna Fáil is extending the three year corporation tax exemption for start-up companies commencing a new trade in 2011. However for many existing small businesses the cost of utilities and the burden of commercial rates remain the two biggest threats to survival.

In my own area small businesses have benefited from a reduction in commercial rates however there are many local authorities who have saw fit only to freeze rates while some have actually increased rates, putting businesses in further danger.

There is precedent for central Government controlling commercial rates. I believe the time has come for commercial rates to once again be subject to national control. The ad hoc administration of commercial rates is posing an unnecessary threat to businesses and jobs and this must be addressed as a matter of urgency.