Small businesses to benefit from €250 million one-off grant

More than 130,000 small and medium sized Irish businesses will receive a once-off grant under a new ‘Increased Cost of Business’ scheme being rolled out by the government at a cost of €250 million as part of Budget 2024.

Under the terms of the new scheme, any Irish business that has paid less than €20,000 in commercial rates will receive a once-off grant with a value of up to 50 per cent of the amount paid in rates. The maximum amount a business can receive will be a grant of €10,000.

This move was welcomed by Cllr Enda McGloin at the annual budget meeting that took place in Carrick-on-Shannon recently. 
"I think that's very welcome, particularly for smaller businesses and one with rate bills of less than €20,000," said Cllr McGloin. 

He was speaking after the application of a 75% Commercial Rates Vacancy Refund for 2024 in respect of vacant rateable properties in Leitrim was approved. 

Cllr Des Guckian however said that this means that "25% of rates are still being charged to a business that has failed and I think that's kicking a man when he's down and I don't think it's right."