Firms likely to bear brunt of funds freeze
Although the cases of Killarney, Naas and Skibbereen are quite extreme businesses in counties Louth and Longford contribute less than 6.5% of the council budget most business owners believe their commercial rates are relied on too much by local government.
Figures from the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland show that just under a quarter of the average local authority's annual spend comes from commercial rates. This year, Irish businesses will pay almost €750 million in rates to their local town, city or county council.
