Minister Peter Burke, Minister of State for Planning and Local Government, has announced another commercial rate’s package for local authorities totalling €160 million for the first quarter of 2021.
This is being provided to assist local authorities during the current further round of Government Covid-19 restrictions and to ensure businesses most affected by these restrictions are not facing commercial rates bills.
This three-month waiver is more focused than the previous nine-month waiver and Minister Burke has outlined that support to businesses will be targeted to those most severely impacted, such as hospitality, leisure, childcare, personal care, entertainment, retail (excluding large supermarkets), airports, health and service stations.
It is estimated that the extension of the waiver to these categories of business in the first quarter of 2021 will cost €160 million. The waiver of commercial rates beyond the first quarter of 2021 will be kept under review and considered in the context of public health guidelines.