Rates hikes ‘disincentive’ for businesses to expand

ANYA GREALY was looking to expand her small hotel in Roscommon two years ago. Despite it being a bad time for the tourism industry, she wanted to add 26 bedrooms to her Abbey Hotel and extend the conference and leisure facilities.

Factored into her business plan was an increase in local authority rates, which totalled €15,659 last year.

These were separate to water charges and waste charges, which she paid to a private waste collection firm. As she was expanding her property she was expecting an increase in rates.