Small clubs and pubs fear higher rates may close them

HARD-PRESSED sports clubs, pubs and shops, already struggling to survive, could be forced to close due to higher rates. These were the fears expressed at this week’s meeting of Galway Co Council.
When Damien Curran, Project Manager with the Valuation Office, gave a presentation on the National Programme of Revaluation of Commercial and Industrial Properties, he admitted that sports clubs were still facing valuation on the total size of their building and not just on the size of the bar. This is based on a 1904 law.
While “regressive rates” are already forcing rural pubs and shops to close, say Cllrs Michael Connolly and Mogie Maher, the rates rules are even worse for sports club who have bars in their clubhouses, according to Cllr Frank Kearney.
“Why can’t the same rules apply to sports clubs with bars as they do to pubs, and base the rates being levied on the clubs on the turnover of their bar area rather than charging them on the size of the whole clubhouse or sports complex?” asked the Turloughmore councillor.
Continuing to direct his ire at the speaker from the Valuation Office, Cllr Kearney, an undertaker, caused laughter when he raised the rates situation facing funeral parlours.
“As a funeral director I am aware of the high rates that have to be paid annually by those who own funeral parlours, even if they are only used occasionally,” said the Fine Gael councillor.
“Perhaps you could say that it is dead money,” quipped his Fianna Fail opponent Cllr Donagh Killilea — and the meeting erupted into laughter.