Council €3.6m short in rates

A SPATE of business collapses around North Cork has left the county council with a €3.6 million rates shortfall.

County Hall officials said yesterday that the council had collected more than €60 million in rates for 2003. However, they added that €3,636,725 was outstanding and of that they had written off €1.5m.

“There are a number of factors, properties have become vacant or premises have closed down. But they seem to be mainly small shops and pubs in rural areas, particularly in north-west Cork. It’s looking particularly lean up there,” a spokesman said.