Retail incentive scheme for Kilrush?

Kilrush Town Councillors are anxious that a proposed Retail Incentive Scheme be extended to the whole town.
The proposal was debated at last Thursday’s monthly meeting of the town council, where it was mooted that Moore Street would be the primary beneficiary of the initiative.
In introducing the Retail Incentive Scheme proposal, acting town manager, Nora Kaye, said the council had conducted a survey to find out how many businesses had started or ceased in a 12-month period.
“It was found that while 11 businesses ceased trading in the last 12 months, 10 new businesses opened up in the town,” she revealed, adding that the rates income in Kilrush for 2010 was down 20% on 2007 figures.
Ms Kaye explained the genesis of the scheme is to encourage people to set up businesses in vacant premises.
“This is done by way of a grant towards the fit out costs of the new business, subject to the amount of the grant being not more than 50% of the rates due on the particular business in year one. Other charges, such as commercial water rates, must be paid and any refurbishment works must be carried out by a registered contractor, who must be compliant with C2, tax clearance certificates and health and safety,” the acting town manager added.
“The amount of the grant in year two would be 25% of the rates due on the premises,” she explained.
Councillor Marian McMahon Jones expressed the hope that the Retail Incentive Scheme will be put in place all over Kilrush town.
“I think we should look at rolling this out for the whole town,” she said, while Councillor Liam O’Looney suggested that the scheme should be implemented over at least three and perhaps for up to five years.
In reply to Councillor Ian Lynch’s query as to when the proposal could be put in place, Nora Kaye said it would first have to be adopted by the town council and then put forward for a period of public consultation.
She also noted that excessive rents in Kilrush are an issue for business in the town.
“From listening to yourselves, rents around the town are sometimes as big a deterrent as town council rates,” the acting town manager said, adding that if a new business folds during the period of the proposed scheme, they would have to repay the rates cut that they initially benefited from. 
Councillor Paul Moroney noted that 2007 rents are still being charged for premises in Henry Street. The Retail Incentive Scheme will be on the agenda for the July meeting of Kilrush Town Council for further discussion.