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Business group hits out at rise to commercial rates in Dublin city

Business group Dublin Chamber has said it is "disappointed and frustrated" over a 3% increase to ...
Jack Quann
Jack Quann

07.14 26 Nov 2019


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Business group hits out at ris...

Business group hits out at rise to commercial rates in Dublin city

Jack Quann
Jack Quann

07.14 26 Nov 2019


Share this article


Business group Dublin Chamber has said it is "disappointed and frustrated" over a 3% increase to commercial rates next year.

It comes as Dublin City councillors voted on Monday in favour of the measure as part of its budget for 2020.

It will also see a 10% increase in parking charges and a 36% increase to the East Link toll.

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However council housing rents will not go up.

Dublin Chamber has claimed the need to increase commercial rates - for the second year running - was entirely unnecessary "as the budgetary challenge had been entirely foreseeable earlier in the year."

It said councillors opted to ignore its advice.

The CEO of Dublin Chamber Mary Rose Burke said: "It's disappointing to see businesses yet again forced to pick up the tab as councillors avoid making the difficult decisions.

"In deciding to retain the -15% reduction in Local Property Tax, councillors have refused to countenance €12m in potential income for the city.

"Had councillors instead implemented a reduction of -5% in LPT then the shortfall in the council’s budget would have been met.

"This decision is extremely short-sighted. It is frustrating for businesses to be told that there is no option but to raise their rates again."

Dublin City homeowners pay €80m a year in Local Property Tax (LPT) - but the council said it typically receives only €4m.

It said €16m is distributed to other counties and the remaining €60m is used to fund central government programmes.

"Dublin homeowners are in effect subsidising national Government spending", a voting block on the city council said.

Ms Burke added: "Businesses in the city are being hit by cost increases from all angles, with last year's VAT and commercial rates hikes coming on top of rising insurance and utilities costs and increased wage pressure from staff.

"There's more to come too, with water rates in the city set to rise by an average of 18% next year - and now a near 3% increase in their commercial rates bill."

Ahead of the meeting, there were calls for the Government to reverse a decision to take €8.4m in Irish Water-related rates.

The Government had informed Dublin City Council that it will take Irish Water-related rates income of €8.4m from its budget in 2020 and every subsequent year.

This is despite Government, it said, committing that the transition to Irish Water would be revenue neutral.


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Commercial Rates Dublin Chamber Dublin City Dublin City Councillors Irish Water LPT Local Property Tax Mary Rose Burke

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