Details of €250m commercial rates scheme for small firms to be 'finalised  in coming weeks'

Business groups concerned at how the scheme will work, with Vintners' Federation of Ireland unhappy with a €20,000 ceiling

Isme's Neil McDonnell said small firms may have to apply to several local authorities. Picture: RollingNews.ie

Further work is being carried out to deliver the €250m budget scheme designed to help small firms with their soaring costs, and the spending will be paid out in the early months of next year, the Department of Enterprise has said. 

The Increased Costs of Business Scheme was unveiled as the Government's centrepiece spending incentive for SMEs in the budget, but business groups said the Government had not worked through all the issues.