The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
RATES and their impact on small and family-run businesses were in the spotlight at the January meeting of the local authority with Clare’s newest county councillor called for their reform. Tabling his first motion since being coopted to the local authority, Councillor Tom O’Callaghan called on the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to amend the Valuation Act to ensure rates are based on the profits a business makes, rather than the size of its premises. He urged that this be done before the revaluation process, currently being conducted, becomes effective from January of next year. “I believe very strongly our focus needs to be on protecting the viability of the small to medium family-run business, through County Clare, especially in the heart of our towns and our rural villages,” he told the chamber. “Any support, reduce costs is needed and very much appreciated.” The Ennis district member outlined the spiralling costs of credit for small businesses and highlighted …
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