The Government is deferring local authority rates for businesses affected by the coronavirus.
Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy told Lunchtime Live this will apply to firms such as pubs, restaurants and hairdressers who have had to close.
The deferral of rates will see payments to local authorities frozen for three months.
Minister Murphy said: "Businesses that are impacted by COVID-19 can defer their rate payment for the next three months.
"All the businesses like pubs, restaurants, hairdressers aren't actually in business at the moment - their shutters aren't up.
"They don't have customers coming in.
"So for that period, the local authorities won't be looking for a rates bill from them".
It comes after an earlier call from the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) for all commercial rates to be waived during the coronavirus crisis.
The group said proposals to simply defer them are completely inadequate.
It claimed this will do little to get the 260,000 people in Irish tourism back to work as part of rebuilding Ireland.
Elaina Fitzgerald Kane, IHF president, says: "Securing jobs is our priority now and it is disappointing that the Government does not realise the reality of what is needed".
The IHF is calling for rates to be waived until this crisis is over, saying that decisive action is required that recognises and properly addresses the financial challenges facing the tourism and hospitality sector.
"Deferring payment fails to tackle the underlying problem.
"It needs to be waived. Let’s be very clear, our quest is to get 260,000 people back to work and if this meaningless intervention is to the only initiative brought to the table, businesses throughout Ireland will suffer.
"Every day without a waiver leads to further job losses,” Ms Kane warned.
Minister Murphy is currently in self-isolation after visiting family abroad last week.
The minister is taking the measure as a precaution and has not been in physical contact with any of his ministerial colleagues.
A spokesperson said the minister is continuing a full work schedule via phone and teleconference.
He traveled abroad last week before any travel advice had been issued.
