‘An important message’: Councillor welcomes rates grant announcement for businesses based in County Kildare

A Kildare county councillor has welcomed a new government announcement relating to a rates grant for up to 90 per cent of businesses based in County Kildare.

Fianna Fáil Cllr Rob Power has welcomed the news that over 90 per cent of businesses in Kildare will receive a grant of up to half the value of their rates bill for 2024.

The Increased Cost of Business (ICOB) grant was announced by the government earlier this week.

Commenting on the announcement, the Newbridge-based politician said: "This is really welcome news for small and medium businesses in the county.

"If your company pays less than €30,000 in annual rates you will be entitled to 50 per cent of the value of your rates bill, up to a maximum of €5,000: that effectively makes over 4,500 businesses or more than 90 per cent of ratepayers in the county eligible for the grant."

Cllr Rob Power (Fianna Fáil) welcomed the news. Photograph supplied.

He continued: "This measure is targeted so that the top five to ten per cent of ratepayers will not be eligible.

"Five grand is a drop in the ocean for those companies but for some of our 5,000 businesses in the county this will be a critical lifeline in meeting ever rising costs across many sectors.

"Of course, this grant won’t meet all of the increased costs that businesses have seen over the last number of years but it will help and it’s an important message that says business owners and entrepreneurs are vital to our economy and will be supported by government."

Cllr Power also said that Kildare County Council (KCC) is 'playing their part' in supporting retailers and the local economy: "KCC has also stepped up to the plate with increased shop front and accessibility grants."

"These have made really positive contributions to our main streets across the county and in the coming months will also support small independent retailers in marking the Brigid 1500 celebrations," he concluded.