An Ennis café owner insists he’ll only pay the same commercial rates he paid last year, despite Clare County Council approving an 8% increase this week.
Businesses across Clare are expressing their opposition to the decision which Mayor of Clare Paul Murphy says was taken for “the greater good of the county”.
Clare County Council raises roughly 40% of its annual revenue expenditure through commercial rates which are a local property tax on commercial premises.
Explaining the controversial move at a special meeting on Wednesday, the local authority said the 8% hike will generate approximately €3.5 million in revenue this year.
This income is intended to be used for the provision of general services like street cleaning, public lighting, roads and footpath upkeep, fire services, parks and open spaces, environmental protection, libraries, heritage, tourism, public amenities and the arts and community support initiatives.
According to the council, 34% of traders in the county will see an average weekly increase of €1.28 while 20% will see a rise of €2.99 and a further 21% will see their rates go up by €5.44.
Co-owner of Sweet n Green in Ennis, Frank Landy, doesn’t believe an increase of any size can be absorbed by businesses.
The amount a business pays in commercial rates in determined by the valuation of the business and the Annual Rate on Valuation which in 2025 was 0.239.
In 2023, Tailte Éireann carried out a programme known as Reval 2023 which sought to ensure that the “ratetable valuation” of each business was up-to-date.
Following the process, Robert Kennedy of Spar in Lahinch saw his commercial rates soar by 247%.
He says Clare’s elected councillors have been “sold a pup” with the 8% hike.
Listen to the full interview here