‘Rates holiday’ urged for businesses damaged by waters

Cork’s city and county managers have been asked to give flood-strickenbusinesses a “rates holiday”.

Fine Gael TD Dara Murphy wrote to city manager Tim Lucey and county manager Martin Riordan yesterday urging them to consider the proposal.

Dozens of businesses in Blackpool, Douglas, Glanmire, and Clonakilty are still counting the cost after last Thursday morning’s devastating flash flood.

Mr Murphy said the vast majority of those affected were small family-run businesses that were already struggling with the effects of the recession.

A rates holiday could play a huge role in them getting back on their feet and re-opening their doors.

Easing the rates burden, especially for businesses in the Blackpool area where there have been several flooding incidents in recent years, would be of huge assistance.

“This area has flooded now on a number of occasions over the past decade,” said Mr Murphy.

“Many of these businesses do not have insurance and even if they do, they are all facing either a considerable period of closure, or at least a very significant financial loss.

“I believe it is essential that we give these businesses every encouragement and incentive to re-open and re-employ their staff.”

He asked Mr Lucey to consider affording the affected businesses a commercial rate holiday for the second half of 2012.

It may ultimately safeguard the long-term commercial rate revenue from Blackpool, he said.

Mr Murphy also accompanied minister of state Brian Hayes on a tour of Blackpool on Monday where he viewed the culvert at the centre of the flooding emergency.

The minister has asked the OPW to prepare a specific report on possible engineering solutions.

The Government has also agreed to provide €1.6m to Cork city and county councils to meet the clean-up costs.