Vacant businesses in Carlow should not be exempt from rates, says local councillor

Owners of vacant business premises should still have to pay rates in Carlow Town.

That’s the call from local Councillor Fergal Browne who says he’ll be proposing the idea at this week’s Municipal District Meeting.

At the moment these premises are given a 100% write-off on rates and Councillor Browne says that even if they were made to pay 10% that would mean an extra €300,000 a year for the council.

Speaking to KCLR News, he says he hopes it could be introduced from next year on.