Ratepayers Support Grant 2024

Automatic application of grant if your 2024 Rates Bill is €20,000 or less, and:

            1. You are already Paying by Direct Debit in 2024; or
            2. You sign up to Pay by Direct Debit prior to 1st July, 2024; or
            3. You Pay in full by 1st July 2024.

Calculation of Grant:

For 2024, the dlr Ratepayers Support Grant provides for graduated grant payments dependent on the level of rates, with the grant varying from 8% to 14% of the 2024 rates bill. The amount of the 2024 grant payable to qualifying ratepayers will be calculated as follows;

       Rates Payable 2024                          2024 Grant                   Maximum Grant

    Less than or Equal to €3,000          14% of Rates Bill                      €420

    Between €3,001 - €5,000                 12% of Rates Bill                       €600

    Between €5,001 – €10,000              10% of Rates Bill                     €1,000

    Between €10,001 – €20,000              8% of Rates Bill                     €1,600

Automatic application of grant:

It will not be necessary for eligible businesses to apply for the support scheme payment.  Application of the grant will be made to eligible ratepayers as follows:

1. Accounts paying by direct debit will have an adjustment made to their final payment in November/December 2024.

2. Accounts paid in full by other methods will have the grant automatically applied as a credit to their account at the beginning of 2025 and prior to the issue of that year’s rate bill.

3. Where requested in writing, the Council will facilitate the application of the grant in 2024.

Terms and Conditions of the Scheme

1. The relevant property must be a commercially rated property in the Council’s administrative area.

2. Total commercial rates assessed on the rate account must be €20,000 or less.

3.The commercial rates for 2024, including arrears if any, relating to the relevant account or any other account by the rated occupier must be paid in full by the 1st July 2024. This date applies unless an agreement to pay by year end 2024 is agreed prior to 1st July 2024.  In very exceptional circumstances, an agreement to pay the arrears only over a longer period may be considered but 2024 rates must be paid in full in 2024.

4. Agreements to pay by year end 2024 require the ratepayer to sign up for direct debit payments prior to the 1st July 2024.  

5. Occupiers currently on or newly signed up to direct debit payments are deemed to have an agreement to pay 2024 rates and arrears, if any, by year end 2024. Application of the grant will be made to eligible ratepayers that have adhered to their direct debit arrangement by adjusting their final direct debit payment in November/December 2024.

6. Where a vacant property qualifies for a rates refund/rates vacancy property adjustment then the grant payment will only be payable on that element of the rates bill that does not qualify for a rates vacancy refund/rates vacancy adjustment.

7. Where occupancy of a property is transferred during 2024 the Support Grant may be availed of by the occupier for the relevant period of their occupancy subject to Section 11 of the Local Government Reform Act 2014 (duty to inform rating authority of transfer of relevant property) being complied with.

8. The grant shall apply for the period 1st January to 31st December 2024.

9. Occupiers qualifying for this Support Grant may also qualify for other Business Supports available from the Council.

Section 66 of the Local Government Act 2001, as amended by Section 43 of the Local Government Reform Act 2014, provides that a local authority may provide such financial assistance as it considers appropriate to promote the interests of the local community, including enterprise and economic development interests.