New business boost excludes pubs and takeaways in small Laois town
The vacant shops and businesses in a small town in Laois are hoped to be open and busy again in 2023 with the launch of a business incentive scheme.
The Ballinakill Business Incentive Scheme will offer slashed commercial rates taxes for the first three years of new businesses in the town.
However some business excluded include pubs and takeaways, a condition that some councillors are not happy with.
The Ballinakill scheme was approved by councillors at the December meeting of Laois County Council, with Cllr John Joe Fennelly proposing and Cllr Barry Walsh seconding.
Cllr Fennelly noted that takeaways and pubs are not included in the scheme.
"It's the same for all towns. I never realised that. Mountrath has three or four old pubs and I was wondering why no-one took up the business again. There's a vacant takeaway in Mountrath too," he said.
Cllr Willie Aird said it would not be fair to an existing pub or shop to give a new competing business a discount.
Cllr Fennelly disagrees.
"But all these premises will remain closed and there will be dereliction. We're excluding them. There's an old hotel in Ballinakill, if someone wants to reopen that are we saying 'sorry, leave it to go derelict?'," Cllr Fennelly replied.
Cllr Walsh said each town should be considered on its merits.
"Ballinakill is a thriving town with a thriving committee, we need to support them," he said.
A Laois County Council official explained that it is hoped to encourage the use of commercial premises that have lain vacant for six months or more.
In year one the new business will get a 75% reduction in rates charges, 50% in year two and 25% in year three, to get them up and running.
"The location is the main business area. The idea is to attract business in the village centre, which is the same area for the streetscape enhancement scheme. If a unit is outside that area, it can be looked at to extend it," the official said.
Eight towns and villages in Laois have the scheme so far; Portlaoise, Portarlington, Rathdowney, Mountmellick, Durrow, Borris-in-Ossory, Abbeyleix and Mountrath.
The schemes cover shops, medical clinics and crèches.
They are not available to takeaways, amusement arcades, head shops, betting offices, nightclubs, pubs, cash for or clothes for money shops, and premises that have not followed planning laws.