Councillors now given power to cut commercial rates

Councillors have been given the power to cut commercial rates for businesses in decaying town centres for the first time. The aim is to target certain town centre shopping streets which are suffering due to high vacancy rates, the growth of online shopping and the availability of out-of-town shopping centres with free parking.

Minister of State for Local Government John Paul Phelan said the power was being provided to councillors through the recently ...