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Intro Text 

Business Support Grant 2020 (4% to 10% of Rates Bill)

The Council has always been sensitive to the difficult environment in which businesses operate. To alleviate some of the pressure a new business support scheme for eligible ratepayers was introduced as part of the 2017 budgetary process and approved by Members at their Meeting held in March 2017.

To ensure that ratepayers received the same level of grant from one year to the next and were not negatively impacted by subsequent increases in the ARV it was agreed to allocate grant payments based on the 2017 rates bill amount.

For 2020 the Council has continued the scheme providing for graduated grant payments dependent on the level of rates payable with the grant varying from 10% to 4% of the 2017 rates bill. The 2020 equivalent is €21,019.42. 

The amount of the 2020 grant payable to qualifying ratepayers will be calculated as follows:

Rates Payable 2017                          2020 Grant                 Maximum Grant

Less than or Equal To €3,000 ....... 10% of Rates Bill ..................€300

Between €3,001- €5,000 ................. 8% of Rates Bill .................. €400

Between €5,001 - €10,000 .............. 6% of Rates Bill .................. €600

Between €10,001 – €20,000 ........... 4% of Rates Bill .................. €800                                    

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:

a)  Accounts paying by direct debit will have an adjustment made to their final payment in November/December 2020.

b)  Accounts paid in full by other methods will have the grant automatically applied as a credit to their account at the beginning of 2021 and prior to the issue of that year’s rate bill.

c)  Where requested in writing, the Council will facilitate the application of the grant in 2020.

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 for 2017 must be €20,000 or less. The amount of the grant will be calculated as follows:   

    Rates Payable 2017                          2020 Grant               Maximum Grant

    Less than or Equal To €3,000 ....... 10% of Rates Bill ..................€300

    Between €3,001- €5,000 ................. 8% of Rates Bill .................. €400

    Between €5,001 - €10,000 .............. 6% of Rates Bill .................. €600

    Between €10,001 – €20,000 ........... 4% of Rates Bill .................. €800                                                                                                           

  3. The commercial rates for 2020, 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, 2020. This date applies unless an agreement to pay by year end 2020 is agreed prior to 1st July, 2020.  In very exceptional circumstances, an agreement to pay the arrears only over a longer period may be considered but 2020 rates must be paid in full in 2020.
  4. Agreements to pay by year end 2020 require the ratepayer to sign up for direct debit payments prior to the 1st July, 2020.  In very exceptional circumstances other payment methods may be accepted.
  5. Occupiers currently on or newly signed up to direct debit payments are accepted as an agreement to pay 2020 rates and arrears, if any, by year end 2020. Application of the grant will be made to eligible ratepayers that have adhered to their direct debit arrangement by adjustment of their final direct debit payment in November/December 2020.
  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 2020,  the Support Grant may be availed of by the occupier for the relevant period of their occupancy subject to Section 32 of the Local Government Reform Act 2014 (duty to inform rating authority of transfer of relevant property) being complied with.
  8. The scheme shall apply for the period 1st January to 31st December, 2020.
  9. Occupiers qualifying for this Support Grant may also qualify for other Business Supports available from the Council.
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