‘Commercial rates must be changed immediately’

Commercial rates legislation must be modernised, says a Cork County Councillor, who is appealing to Local Government Minister, Eoghan Murphy, to “expedite the proposed Consolidated Rates Bill”.

Midleton-based Independent, Cllr Noel Collins, says he wrote to the minister on foot of appeals “from very many businesses still struggling financially with the fall-out from the storms and floods that devastated east Cork in recent times.”

Cllr Collins says the rates system remains “undemocratic, outdated, and possibly unconstitutional”. He wants the proposed legislation introduced “sooner rather than later”, with ratings on business properties revised and a waiver system included.