Sinn Féin Cllr, Tom Forde, has welcomed the inclusion of a 3-month Commercial Rates Waiver in a proposal put forward by Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe this weekend.

‘After campaigning for this Waiver over the last number of weeks, since the beginning of the crisis, both myself and Cllr Ó Súilleabháin are happy to see it included as part of a much larger package that is needed to support SMEs at this time. When we launched a petition for this Waiver, it was our aim to provide a common voice to the Wexford business owners that had contacted us, it has become clear at a nationwide level that this Waiver is a necessary helping hand for our SMEs. It will now be up to the government to offer additional support to the businesses that will be closed until July/August.’

However, Cllr Forde has also cautioned businesses not to be deceived by the proposals announced this weekend, as the supports will not come into effect until the legislation needed can be passed by a new government.

Cllr Forde said:

‘Indications from Leo Varadkar TD in the national media have suggested that the proposed Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael/Green Party government formation may take until mid-late June. This offers little support to businesses that need liquidity in their businesses in the next month, or even fortnight. I’m not sure the government has fully understood the immediacy in which these supports are needed.’