Wexford County Councillors Tom Forde & Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin have launched an online petition in support of Wexford business owners who are affected by loss of income as a result of the COVID19 Pandemic. The petition aims to highlight the recent concerns raised by business owners regarding the financial strain that SMEs will be under as they try to resume trading after the current restrictions are lifted.

https://www.petitions.net/commercial_rates_amnesty_for_co_wexford_business_owners_covid19

Cllr Forde has said:

“It is absolutely vital that the Co. Council listen to and support, local business owners at this time. The pressures that these businesses will face in the coming months are immense. I believe the rates deferral currently proposed by the council, while a welcome step, only kicks the rates issue further down the line, and will result in our SMEs having to repay rates from a time they were closed, in an effort to keep us all safe. I believe a rates amnesty for this period, rather than a deferral, is the best option to relieve our small businesses of their immediate cash-flow concerns. We have started this petition to ensure our local SMEs have a common consolidated voice and feel listened to.”

Both Councillors remain hopeful that any shortfall in the council rates collections, which are necessary to fund Co. Councils services will be replaced by additional funding from the Department of Housing, Planning & Local Government and the Minister for Finance as part of a larger government package to ease the pressure on SMEs.

Cllr Ó Súilleabháin has said:

“We understand how vital the commercial rates are in funding the important services supplied by the Council but, from listening to the business owners, it is clear that there are very real concerns about the next few months. We want to remain positive, and give our local businesses the confidence they need to resume trading, to keep and create jobs, and to know that they were fully supported by their local council at a time they needed it most.”