1 rates cut agreed in roscommon


Roscommon County Council has agreed in a 1% reduction in rates this year and set aside €100,000 for a new Business, Enterprise and Innovation Fund to stimulate economic activity in urban areas.


Initially, the Fianna Fáil/Independent grouping, who control the local authority were seeking a 2% drop in rates for hardpressed businesses during 2015, with the executive pushing for €200,000 for a new Enterprise and Innovation Fund which will see Town Revitalisation Teams set up six urban centres in the county, including Monksland. However, the fund contribution was later reduced to just €100,000 this year.


Plans for a 2% drop were compromised at last Wednesday’s budget meeting by the fact that Irish Water want to cut the subsidy paid to the council for water services by €500,000, Cathaoirleach of the Athlone Municipal District, Paddy Kilduff maintained, saying that they had to bring a budget to take account of that, and unfortunately could not follow through on a commitment with Roscommon Chamber for a 10% reduction, 2% each year over a five year period.

In all, the council plan to spend over €53.438 million during 2015 with rates expected to make up over a fifth of that or in excess of €11.2 million.
Speaking about the 1% fall in rates, Cllr Kilduff said although a small drop it is welcome and means the loss of €100,000 in income for the local authority.


“An awful lot of taxpayers are struggling and I think that ever little bit helps, it would be a pity to see businesses closing,” the Fianna Fáil councillor commented, although disappointed that they were not able to follow through with a 2% drop, it is better that council executive proposal that business rates stay unchanged.


A 1% reduction is a compromise and at least, keeps the downward trend of rate reduction going, something that didn’t happen when the council was controlled by Fine Gael during the good times who continually increased the rates year after year, Cllr Kilduff claimed.


The only dissenting voices to the 1% compromise last Wednesday were Independents Cllr Dominic Connolly and Elphin’s Valerie Beirne.


Welcoming the establishment of the Town Revitalisation Team in Monksland as part of the €100,000 Business, Enterprise and Innovation Fund, Cllr Kilduff called on the public to get involved and come up with ideas to improve the area and ways to stimulate economic activity.


“It’s open for debate, what we spend it on. Anything that comes up with ideas to get things going would be good for the area,” added Cllr Kilduff. “What we’re hoping is that a good scheme will revitalise a town, and we’ll be hoping that we’ll be able to get Leader funding to go with it,” concluded the Glanduff-based public representative.