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27th October 2015 • Volume 22, Issue 36 • Leader House, North Street, Swords, Co. Dublin. EirCode: K67 P5W4. • Tel: 01 8•400•200 • info@northcountyleader.ie • www.northcountyleader.ie
Murphy Fearful Of Job Losses Balbriggan based councillor, Tony Murphy (NP) is highly critical of a plan by the County Council to impose rates on commercial properties that are no longer occupied. Up to now, commercial rates did not apply to businesses that had closed down, where the building was unoccupied. He is fearful that new jobs may be at risk if the new rates are imposed by the County Council.
By Patrick Finnegan
should apply, then graduating to 50 per cent in year two, 75 per cent in year three and finally, the full rate in year four. This will give new businesses a chance to bed in and become established. This should only apply to new businesses that do not exist in the town,” he said. Murphy believes that within town centre regeneration, incentives should be given in order to encourage vacant buildings back to occupancy. “The retail mix is wrong here in Balbriggan and if the wrong mix of shops are in a town, it will never work. You must have what the population wants. what could happen from this change in the rate refund, is that landlords who are financially stretched may end up putting anything into the
Murphy told the County Leader, “The situation at present is that you receive 100 per cent refund on vacant buildings. This means that if there is nobody occupying the building, you don’t pay rates. The County Council are proposing to change this, by charging the rateable valuation of the building and they will refund 75 per cent of that rate – effectively charging 25 per cent of what the rate would have been, had the building been occupied. Murphy quoted from the Vacancy Refund Analysis Report on commercial rates from 8th September 2015, which was delivered to the Corporate Policy Group on Fingal County Council. “One of the main points in the report suggested that the Local Government Reform Act of 2014 gave powers to County Councils to vary the refund rate and to operate different rates in the different Local Electoral Cllr Tony Murphy is pictured outside the vacant Balbriggan Shopping Areas within the county. Centre on Quay Street in the town The independent councillor is conscious that most of the anomalies exist within his own shop in order to have the rate paid, without a care local electoral area of Balbriggan in terms of in the world about what the shop sells. This is vacancy. “An example of this is that between likely to result in a rolling over of occupancy and 2011 and 2014, Balbriggan’s vacant premises further deteriorate the facades on the main have increased by a staggering 197.8 per cent, streets.” which equates to an increase from 45 vacant David Fitzsimons, CEO of Retail Excellence Ireland premises, to 134 premises. During the height of agreed with Murphy when he said, “We are the recession, we had more vacant premises against it - it does not work. Applying rates on vacant buildings will lead to a rush by landlords percentage wise than any other area,” he said. He suggests that if the 25 per cent charge is to fill the stores will inferior retail uses, as imposed on empty buildings, it should be incen- happened in Northern Ireland. The best approach tivised through easing in the rates on these build- is to invite brands the residents want in that town ings. “In year one, 25 per cent commercial rate and offer an incentive to them.
Rush National School held a Halloween themed fundraising Bake Sale at the school on Friday last. The competition was judged by well-known TV baking judge, Catherine Leyden from Odlums. Pictured are teachers and students all dressed up for the occasion, Samantha Archer, Liz McMahon, Catherine Leyden, Grainne Clare and Principal, Morgan Doran, with pupils Darragh Kelly (Elvis), Emer Smail (Superwoman), Kayleigh Long (dressed as a bat) and Reece Armstong.
A Slap In The Face For Care Workers
Agreement in place since 2009
Payment deferred to 2012 due to economy
Promised for this year, but pushed out to 2016
Three deadlines now missed
Minster reneges yet again on the
Labour Court recommendation Fingal Care workers are up in arms about being ignored by the Government for the last four years, for payment that is due to them in lieu of pension entitlements. The County Leader spoke with two local Home Help workers, Patricia Greene and Mary Hughes, who described the struggle they are facing to get justice in the form of payments, which were promised to them by the HSE. Patricia said, “This problem goes way back to 2009 when agreements were put in place regarding a gratuity payment to be made in place of pension entitlements. We never got this payment, so we battled for the past two years, as we were put off in 2009 owing to the economy and budget
constraints at the time. They promised to come back in 2012, which has now been kicked down the road to 2016. The HSE were to return to us last are Fingal Home Care workers, Mary Hughes March, which Pictured and Patricia Greene didn’t happen and then the end of are looking for is four-and-a September was agreed. They half week’s pay for every year are now saying that it will be that was worked by the Home resolved in 2016 and they are Help. There was a service level quoting Haddington Road agreement in 2000. We work agreement, section 39. At this under the umbrella of the HSE stage, we are being pushed and because they couldn’t work out how they were going down the road,” she said. Mary Hughes said that they to pay the pension, they came expected the recent give-away to an agreement with the budget to have been Labour Court in 2009, favourable to them. “All we Continued on page 8