Cut in rates on cards for two thirds of Cork firms

Small businesses in Co Cork, especially those paying less than €3,000 annually in rates, are set get a reduction in the charge and also to benefit from a new fund set up encourage regeneration of some economically-decimated town centres.

The Irish Examiner understands these are some of the proposals which will be included in the Cork County Council budget for 2015, which will be debated in County Hall on Monday, November 24.

While the fine-tuning of the local authority’s annual €300m-plus budget is still in its final stages, it’s expected to be “business-orientated” to aid retail outlets which have struggled to keep their heads above water during the recession and “kick-start” added employment in that sector as the economy gains ground.