Chambers Ireland has today (26/02/09) noted that 22 of the 34 local authorities in Ireland have increased charges at a time when the whole economy is focussed on cutting costs. 12 other local authorities have opted for a 0% commercial rates increase. This data was gathered from a census of local authority charges collected by Chambers throughout Ireland.
Chair of Chambers Ireland’s Ratepayers Council Hilary Haydon said, “Local authority charges such as commercial rates, water charges and development levies have been increasing year on year. Yet in 2009 our collective focus must be on cost cutting and containment. The cost of living is declining; wage costs are declining why are local authority charges not doing likewise? These charges which must be paid whether a firm is profitable or not damage competitiveness and add to the other economic challenges faced by Irish business.”
“Given the current performance of the economy and our manifest need to restore competitiveness, all Irish local authorities should pass on the benefits of the pay pause and pension levy to public service salaries, and revisit the calculations on which any agreed increases were based–not just in commercial rates but also in water and waste charges.”
“The 12 county councils that did not increase rates set a benchmark. Others should examine their operations, identify potential savings and efficiencies, and pass resultant savings onto the business community in order to preserve businesses and jobs in the future,” Haydon added.
“Councils must not simply move charges from one heading to another. They must pass on cuts in costs that they have achieved over the past year to business in order to both help those businesses contain costs, and sustain local authorities’ own long term revenue streams,” he concluded.
-Ends-
For further information, contact Jessica Dempsey, Press & Communications Officer, Chambers Ireland on 01-400 4303, 086-608 1605 or email jessica.dempsey@chambers.ie.
Notes to Editor
As of February 24th 2009, 12 County Councils have opted for 0% increase in commercial rates, the remaining 22 have not.
1. Cavan County Council
2. Cork County Council
3. Donegal County Council
4. Kilkenny County Council
5. Laois County Council
6. Leitrim County Council
7. Limerick County Council
8. Mayo County Council
9. Monaghan County Council
10. North Tipperary County Council
11. Offaly County Council
12. Sligo County Council
About Ratepayers Council
The Local Government and Ratepayers Council works to lobby for adequate funding from Central Government for local authorities and for increased efficiency within local authorities. The council is chaired by Mr Hilary Haydon.
About Chambers Ireland
Chambers Ireland is Ireland's largest business organisation with 60 member chambers representing over 13,000 businesses on the island of Ireland.
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